l|HHHMIHMM!riH»HnlinMllllHimilllllHI»HIIIHMII»IIIIMHIIIHII»HI»IIIMIIIIIMflllllillllillll!lllM!li|innilllllMliiMiniiiiriuiiiHM 


[See  p.  2f>j 

You  are  wrong,  daddy,"  Alice  said ;  "  for  the  first 
time  in  my  life,  I  tell  you,  you  are  wrong." 


THE  LEVER 

A  NOVEL 


BY 

WILLIAM    DANA  ORGUTT 

AUTHOR  OF  "THE  SPELL,"  "THE  FLOWER  OF  DESTINT," 
"ROBERT  CAVELIER,"  ETC. 


"  Give  me  where  I  may  stand,  a  lever  long 
enough,  and  a  fulcrum  strong  enough,  and  I 
will  move  the  world."  —  ARCHIMEDES. 


HARPER  &  BROTHERS  PUBLISHERS 

NEW  YORK  AND  LONDON 

MGM  XI 


BOOKS  BY 
WILLIAM    DANA    ORCUTT 

THE  LEVKR.      Illustrated     .     Post  8vo.  $1.50 
THE  SPEI.I..      Illustrated  Post  8vo.     1.50 


HARPER  &   BROTHERS,  PUBLISHERS,  N.  Y. 


CO  P  Y  R  10  HT,     I^II 
II  A  H  1>  K  R    It    BROTHERS 


PRINTED    IN   THE    t'MTED    STATES  OP   AMERICA 
PUBLIilll  K  U,    JANUABY,    I  IJ  I  I 


TO     MT     MOTHER 

ELLEN    DANA   ORCUTT 

'SUPREME    IN    THE    STRENGTH    OF    ASSERTING 

THAT  WHICH  IS  EVER  WOMAN'S  CREED JUSTICE 

AND  RIGHT,"  THIS  VOLUME  IS  AFFECTIONATELY 
DEDICATED 


21.11804 


THE      LEVER 


THE  LEVER 


THE  girl  leaned  forward  impulsively  from  the 
leisurely  moving  victoria  and  looked  back  at  the 
automobile  which  whizzed  by  the  carriage,  along 
the  maple-lined  road  leading  from  Washington  to  Chevy 
Chase ;  then  she  as  suddenly  resumed  her  former  position 
when  she  discovered  that  the  young  man,  who  was  the 
only  occupant  of  the  motor-car,  had  slowed  down  and 
was  gazing  back  at  her. 

"  How  impertinent !"  she  exclaimed,  flushing,  address 
ing  herself  rather  than  the  older  woman  beside  her.  "  Of 
course,  it  couldn't  be  Allen;  but  if  it  wasn't,  why  was 
he  looking  back  at  me?  Did  you  recognize  him, 
Eleanor?" 

"  Who's  impertinent  ?"  queried  Patricia,  who  sat  be 
tween  them  and  exercised  a  ten-year-old  sister's  pre 
rogative. 

Mrs.  Gorham  was  quietly  amused.  "  Which  question 
shall  I  answer  first,  Alice — and  who  is  '  Allen '  supposed 
to  be?" 

It  was  the  girl's  turn  to  sense  the  situation.  "  How  ri 
diculous  !"  she  laughed.  "  Of  course  you  wouldn't  know. 

[31 


THE     LEVER 


Allen  Sanford  and  I  used  to  play  together  when  we  were 
children  in  Pittsburgh.  I  haven't  seen  him  since  we 
moved  away  after  mamma  died ;  but  that  really  looked 
like  him.  I  wonder  if  by  any  chance  it  could  be?" 

"  Oh,  Alice,  he's  coming  back,"  announced  Patricia 
from  her  point  of  vantage  on  her  knees,  and  a  moment 
later  the  same  automobile,  driven  at  a  speed  at  which 
the  most  conscientious  of  traffic  guardians  could  not 
complain,  passed  them  slowly  at  the  left.  The  young 
man  made  an  effort  to  conceal  the  fact  that  he  was 
surveying  the  girl  in  the  victoria,  but  Alice  cut  short 
his  suspense. 

"  It  is !  it  is !"  she  cried,  eagerly ;  and  with  the  recog 
nition  made  certain  the  boy  shut  off  his  power,  and, 
springing  out  of  the  car,  was  beside  her  before  even 
the  discreet  coachman  could  draw  up  to  the  curb. 

"  I  thought  I  couldn't  be  mistaken —  "  he  began. 

"  But  you  weren't  sure,"  Alice  finished  for  him.  "  You 
were  trying  to  remember  a  little  girl  with  a  pigtail  down 
her  back  and  horrid  freckles  all  over  her  face — now, 
weren't  you  ?" 

"  If  that's  the  way  you  really  looked,  I  evidently 
wasn't  as  fussy  about  such  things  then  as  I  am  now," 
he  laughed.  "  All  I  remember  is  that  you  were  the 
dandiest  little  playmate  I  ever  had." 

The  unexpected  compliment  caused  Alice  to  turn 
quickly  to  Mrs.  Gorham. 

"  This  is  Allen  Sanford,  Eleanor ;  and  this,  Allen,  is 
my  mother,  sister,  and  dearest  friend  all  in  one." 

"  And  my  name's  Pat,"  added  the  child,  refusing  to 
be  ignored  and  holding  out  her  hand  cordially. 

The  boy  was  even  more  embarrassed  by  the  unex 
pected  meeting  with  the  second  Mrs.  Gorham  than  to 

[4] 


THE     LEVER 


find  Alice  developed  into  so  lovely  and  fascinating  a 
young  woman.  He  had  always  thought  of  Alice's  step 
mother,  when  he  had  thought  of  her  at  all,  as  of  a  type 
entirely  different  from  this  slender,  attractive  woman 
only  a  few  years  older  than  Alice  herself.  There  was  a 
self-possession  about  Mrs.  Gorham,  a  quiet  dignity, 
which  made  the  difference  in  their  ages  seem  greater 
than  it  really  was ;  yet,  had  he  not  known,  Allen  would 
have  thought  them  sisters.  His  father  was  sceptical 
when  he  heard  of  Gorham's  second  marriage :  "  It's 
bigamy,  that's  what  it  is,"  were  Stephen  Sanford's 
words.  "  Gorham  is  married  to  his  business.  Every 
thing  he  touches  turns  into  gold.  Business  to  him  is 
what  a  great  passion  for  a  woman  would  be  to  one 
man,  or  a  supreme  friendship  to  another;  but  the  lever 
which  moves  Robert  Gorham  is  neither  love  nor  steel;  it 
is  cold,  hard  cash." 

All  this  flashed  through  Allen's  mind  in  that  brief 
moment  of  silence  after  the  introduction,  but  the  thoughts 
of  at  least  one  of  the  two  women  had  been  equally  active. 
To  Alice  this  chance  meeting  recalled  a  time  in  her  life 
sanctified  by  the  loss  of  her  mother,  later  made  easier 
to  look  back  upon  by  the  rare  sympathy  which  had  ex 
isted  from  the  first  between  herself  and  the  sweet,  tact 
ful  woman  who  had  come  into  her  life,  filling  the  aching 
void  and  awakening  her  to  a  new  interest  in  her  sur 
roundings.  She  and  Allen  had  been  "  chums  "  in  those 
early  days,  and  it  gratified  her  to  discover  that  the  boy 
whom  she  had  admired  in  a  childish  way  had  become  a 
young  man  so  agreeable  to  look  upon  and  so  little 
changed,  except  in  growth,  from  the  lad  she  remem 
bered.  His  six  feet  of  height  carried  him  to  a  greater 
altitude  than  of  old,  his  well-developed  arms  and  shoul- 

[51 


THE      LEVER 


ders  showed  a  physical  strength  which  his  youth  had  not 
promised,  but  his  face  wore  the  same  frank,  care-free, 
irresponsible  and  good  -  natured  expression  which  had 
made  him  beloved  by  all  his  acquaintances  and  taken 
seriously  by  none. 

Allen's  smile  returned  before  he  found  his  voice,  and 
was  so  infectious  that  Alice,  Mrs.  Gorham,  and  Patricia 
were  also  smiling  broadly. 

"  It's  awfully  good  to  see  you  again,  Alice,"  he  said, 
with  a  sincerity  which  could  not  be  doubted ;  "  and  to 
meet  you,  too,  Mrs.  Gorham,  not  forgetting  Lady  Pat." 
And  then,  as  if  in  explanation,  "  You  see,  as  Alice  says, 
she  and  I  were  pals  when  we  were  youngsters  in  Pitts 
burgh,  and  I  can't  realize  that  now  she's  grown  up  into 
such  a — ': 

"  Do  you  remember  the  games  of  baseball  we  used  to 
play  together?"  Alice  interrupted. 

"  Indeed  I  do,"  he  responded.  "  She  could  throw  a 
ball  overhand  just  like  a  boy,"  Allen  continued,  turning 
to  Mrs.  Gorham  lest  he  seem  to  discriminate  in  his  at 
tentions. 

"  She  can't  do  it  now,  but  I  can,"  Patricia  remarked, 
with  an  air  of  superiority,  subsiding  as  Alice  glanced 
meaningly  at  her. 

"  And  once  you  thrashed  Jim  Thatcher  for  calling  me 
a  tomboy.  Oh,  I  looked  upon  you  as  a  real  story-book 
hero!" 

"  I  suspect  that's  the  only  time  on  record."  Allen 
laughed  again  consciously.  "  That's  one  epithet  I 
haven't  had  hurled  at  me  enough  times  to  make  me 
nervous."  He  looked  at  the  horses  critically.  "  You 
don't  suppose,  there's  any  chance  of  a  runaway  here  to 
give  me  another  opportunity,  do  you?" 

[8] 


THE      LEVER 


"  How  about  the  football  games,  and  the  races  at  New 
London?"  Alice  asked. 

"  What  do  you  know  about  those?" 

"  I  read  all  about  everything  in  the  papers.  Your 
father  was  so  proud  that  he  told  my  father  and  every  one 
about  your  college  record ;  so,  you  see,  your  friends  had 
no  difficulty  in  keeping  posted." 

"  My  father  was  proud  of  me  ?"  Allen  demanded,  in 
genuine  astonishment.  "  Haven't  you  gotten  things  a 
little  mixed?  That  doesn't  sound  like  the  pater  at  all. 
He  didn't  boast  any  of  my  record  in  my  studies,  did  he?" 

"  Father  didn't  say."  Alice  leaned  forward  mis 
chievously.  "  Did  you  get  your  degree  cum  laude, 
Allen?" 

"  Not  exactly,"  he  answered,  frankly.  "  Cum  dif 
ficult  ate  would  be  more  like  it ;  but  I  got  it,  anyhow." 

"  And  what  have  you  been  doing  since?"  Mrs.  Gorham 
asked. 

"  I  went  abroad  right  after  Commencement." 

"  To  perfect  yourself  in  the  languages?" 

"  Well  "  —the  boy  hesitated — "  that  may  have  been 
the  pater's  intention,  but  he  didn't  state  it  audibly.  As 
a  matter  of  fact,  I  perfected  myself  in  running  an  auto 
mobile  more  than  anything  else,  but  I  had  a  corking  good 
time." 

"And  now  what?  You  see  how  inquisitive  I  am," 
Alice  said. 

"  And  now  "  — he  repeated  it  after  her — "  I  want  to 
go  into  business,  and  the  pater  says  diplomacy  for  mine. 
We've  had  lots  of  arguments  over  it,  until  we  finally  com 
promised  it  just  as  we  usually  do — by  my  doing  it  his 
way.  So  here  I  am  in  Washington,  awaiting  my  coun 
try's  call,  ready  to  steer  the  great  U.  S.  A.  through  any 

[7] 


THE      LEVER 


old  international  complication  they  can  scare  up.  But 
I  mustn't  keep  you  and  Mrs.  Gorham  here  any  longer. 
It  is  just  fine  to  see  you  again." 

"  You  will  come  and  see  us  at  the  hotel,"  Mrs.  Gorham 
said,  warmly  seconded  by  Alice.  "  Won't  you  dine  with 
us  to-morrow  evening?  Mr.  Gorham  will  be  glad  to  hear 
about  you  from  yourself." 

To-morrow  evening  seemed  far  away  to  Allen,  so  he 
supplemented  Mrs.  Gorham's  invitation  by  a  sugges 
tion  that  they  take  a  motor  ride  with  him  the  follow 
ing  afternoon,  which  brought  the  time  of  their  meeting 
that  much  nearer. 

For  some  little  time  after  Allen's  machine  had  dis 
appeared  Alice  and  Mrs.  Gorham  continued  their  drive 
in  silence,  and  it  was  Patricia  who  spoke  first. 

"  Isn't  he  the  grandest  thing?"  she  remarked.  "  He's 
just  like  one  of  King  Arthur's  knights.  And  he  called 
me  «  Lady  Pat.'  " 

"  You  dear  child,"  Eleanor  cried,  impulsively  pressing 
the  little  form  to  her. 

"  That  is  exactly  what  I  ought  to  be,"  Alice  said, 
abruptly.  "  Just  think  how  pleased  father  would  be." 

"  What  ought  you  to  be  that  you  are  not,  my  dear?" 
Mrs.  Gorham  inquired,  surprised. 

"  Why,  a  boy  like  Allen  just  ready  to  start  off  on  a 
business  career.  That's  about  the  only  disappointment 
father  has  ever  experienced,  not  having  a  son  to  suc 
ceed  him.  You  know  as  I  do  how  much  it  would  mean 
to  him  to  '  found  a  house,'  as  he  calls  it.  I've  seen  him 
looking  at  Pat  and  me  so  many  times  with  an  expression 
in  his  eyes  which  I  understood,  and  it  has  hurt  me  all 
through  that  I  couldn't  have  been  the  son  he  longed  for. 
The  aggravating  part  of  it  all  is  that  nothing  interests 

[8] 


THE      LEVER 


me  so  much  as  business.  I  must  have  inherited  father's 
love  for  it.  I  adore  listening  to  him  when  he  is  discuss 
ing  some  great  problem  with  Mr.  Covington.  It  seems 
to  me  the  grandest  thing  in  the  world  to  be  able  to  in 
fluence  people,  and  to  create  or  expand  industries  and 
actually  to  accomplish  results." 

Mrs.  Gorham  understood  the  girl's  mood  and  knew 
that  it  was  wiser  to  let  her  run  on  without  interruption. 

"  I  don't  feel  the  same  about  other  things,"  Alice 
continued,  pausing  from  time  to  time  as  she  became  more 
introspective.  "  I'm  fond  of  poetry,  of  course,  but  I 
can't  understand  how  any  one  can  be  satisfied  to  do  noth 
ing  else  but  write  poems ;  I  admire  art,  but  with  my  ad 
miration  for  the  artist's  work  there's  a  real  pity  for  the 
man  because  he  is  debarred  from  the  world  of  action. 
If  I  were  a  man  I  would  have  to  do  something  which  had 
a  physical  as  well  as  an  intellectual  struggle  in  it,  with 
a  reward  at  the  end  to  be  striven  for  which  was  not  ex 
pressed  alone  in  the  praise  of  the  world — it  would  have 
to  be  power  itself." 

"  I  would  rather  be  a  damosel,"  Patricia  put  in. 

"  You  are  your  father's  own  daughter,  Alice,"  Mrs. 
Gorham  said,  as  the  girl  ceased  speaking.  "  You  could 
not  be  his  child  and  feel  otherwise." 

"  But  that  makes  it  all  the  harder,"  Alice  rebelled. 
"  It  doesn't  give  me  any  chance  to  do  the  things  I  want 
to  do.  I  must 

*  Sigh  and  cry 
And  still  sit  idly  fc?/.' ' 

The  drive  was  coming  to  an  end,  and  Mrs.  Gorham  was 
unwilling  to  leave  the  conversation  at  just  this  point. 
"  There  is  another  side  to  all  this,  Alice  dear,  which 


THE      LEVER 


you  mustn't  overlook,"  she  said,  seriously.  "  It  is 
woman's  part  to  inspire  rather  than  to  do,  and  the  fact 
that  it  is  often  the  more  difficult  role  to  play  perhaps 
makes  it  the  nobler  part,  after  all.  The  world  sings  of 
the  bravery  of  men  who  go  forth  to  battle ;  we  older 
women  know  that  it  takes  no  less  courage  to. let  them 
go  and  to  content  ourselves  in  our  impotency,  while  they 
are  spurred  on  by  the  excitement  which  is  denied  to  us. 
Those  of  us  whom  experience  has  tested  know  this,  but 
this  realization  cannot  yet  have  come  to  you." 

Patricia  sighed,  deeply,  "  Oh,  yes,  mamma  Eleanor : 
this  waiting  is  awful." 

"  You  mean  that  we  must  accept  the  situation  as  best 
we  may  and  accomplish  our  results  by  proxy?"  Alice 
queried,  still  rebellious. 

Mrs.  Gorham  smiled  at  the  girl's  interpretation.  "  No, 
dear,"  she  insisted ;  "  I  am  not  willing  to  admit  that  ours 
is  a  position  of  self-abnegation.  We  women  are  denied 
the  privilege  of  doing,  but  we  mustn't  be  unmindful  of 
the  blessing  which  is  given  in  exchange.  To  me  it  is 
infinitely  more  satisfying  to  know  that  we  are  the  in 
spiration  which  urges  men  on  to  do  what  they  could  not 
do  without  us." 

"  Of  course  that's  one  way  of  putting  it,"  Alice  ad 
mitted,  interested  yet  not  convinced  ;  "  but,  just  the  same, 
I'd  rather  be  the  one  to  receive  the  inspiration  than  the 
one  to  give  it." 

On  reaching  the  comfortable  apartment  occupied  by 
the  Gorhams  at  the  hotel,  they  found  that  Mr.  Gorham 
had  already  returned,  accompanied  by  his  first  vice-presi 
dent,  John  Covington,  and  that  they  were  engaged  in 
close  conversation.  Mrs.  Gorham  took  Patricia  with  her 
to  her  room,  but  Alice  immediately  joined  the  two  men. 

[10] 


THE      LEVER 


"  We  have  nearly  finished  our  interview,  Alice,"  her 
father  said,  suggestively,  after  a  smile  of  greeting. 

"  Please  let  me  sit  here  and  listen,"  she  begged.  "  I 
am  so  interested  in  it  all." 

Gorham  acquiesced  with  a  shrug  of  his  shoulders  which 
the  girl  saw  and  felt. 

"  I  don't  know  but  that  we  have  covered  the  situation, 
anyway,"  he  said  to  Coving-ton.  "  I  shall  see  Kenmore 
to-morrow,  and  if  he  can  be  persuaded  to  join  us,  the 
Consolidated  Companies  will  be  just  that  much  strength 
ened.  You  had  better  return  to  New  York  to-night  to 
keep  your  eye  on  the  coffee  situation,  and  I  will  tele 
phone  you  if  I  need  you  here  after  I  see  the  Senator." 

The  two  men  offered  a  striking  contrast  in  their  per 
sonalities.  Robert  Gorham  was  a  large  man,  about  fifty 
years  of  age,  whose  whole  bearing,  when  at  rest,  sug 
gested  the  idealist  rather  than  the  man  of  action.  His 
head  was  large  and  intellectual,  his  chin  strong,  his 
mouth  firm,  conveying  at  once  an  impression  of  strength 
and  of  impenetrable  depth — an  inner  being  which  de 
fied  complete  analysis.  Behind  the  impassive  exterior 
there  was  a  suggestion  of  latent  reserve  force,  but  it  was 
not  until  some  thought  or  word  penetrated  below  the 
surface  that  the  real  man  was  revealed.  Then  it  was 
that  the  impassive  face  lighted  up,  that  the  quiet  gray 
eyes  flashed  fire,  that  the  head  bent  forward  decisively, 
and  the  strong-willed,  large-brained  leader  of  men  stood 
forth. 

Covington,  on  the  other  hand,  ten  years  Gorham's 
junior,  was  slight,  though  tall,  and  was  alwa}rs,  in  man 
ner,  speech,  and  dress,  most  carefully  adjusted.  He  was 
an  organizer  of  men,  as  Gorham  was  the  organizer  of 
companies.  Gorham  wTorkcd  so  quietly  that  his  purpose 

[11] 


T  II  E      LEV  E  R 


seemed  to  accomplish  itself;  Covington  won  his  success  by 
a  pitiless  force  which  left  flotsam  in  its  wake.  Gorham 
was  beloved  and  trusted,  Covington  was  respected  for 
his  abilities  but  dreaded  by  his  subordinates.  It  had 
been  necessary  for  Gorham  to  supplement  himself  with  a 
man  who  possessed  the  genius  of  taking  hold  of  the  in 
dividual  organizations  assimilated  by  the  Consolidated 
Companies,  and  amalgamating  those  engaged  in  similar 
lines  into  perfect,  economic  wholes;  and  Covington's 
rare  service  had  proved  the  wisdom  of  Gorham's  selec 
tion. 

Covington  noted  Alice's  disappointment  when  her 
father  cut  short  their  interview  upon  her  entrance, 
though  Gorham  himself  was  entirely  oblivious  to  it. 

"  I'll  tell  you  all  about  it  when  we  meet  next  time," 
he  said  to  her  in  a  low  tone  as  he  was  leaving.  "  It  is 
always  an  inspiration  to  me  to  talk  these  matters  over 
with  you." 

Alice  smiled  gratefully  but  started  at  the  word  he 
used.  This  man,  acknowledged  by  her  father  to  be 
one  of  the  cleverest  in  the  business  world,  said  that  she 
was  an  "  inspiration  "  to  him.  Could  this  be  possible ! 
This,  then,  was  what  Eleanor  had  meant,  this  was  wom 
an's  mission.  But  still,  she  insisted  to  herself,  she  would 
rather  be  the  recipient  than  the  giver. 

As  Covington  left  the  room  Gorham  turned  to  Alice. 
"  Now  I  can  give  myself  wholly  to  you,"  he  said,  holding 
out  his  arms  affectionately. 

"  Why  did  you  stop  talking  with  Mr.  Covington  as 
soon  as  I  came  in  ?"  Alice  asked,  reproachfully.  "  Was 
it  a  private  matter  ?" 

"  No  indeed,"  he  laughed,  patting  her  affectionately 
on  the  head ;  "  it  was  just  plain  business." 

[12] 


THE      LEVER 


"  But  I  wanted  to  hear  it,"  she  persisted. 

"  It  would  have  meant  nothing  to  you,"  her  father  an 
swered.  "  If  you  had  been  my  son  that  would  he  dif 
ferent,  but  a  woman's  sphere  is  outside  the  business 
world.  Leave  that  to  the  men.  Now  tell  me  what  has 
happened  to-day." 

Alice  knew  her  father  too  well  to  persist  further. 
"  Eleanor  and  I  met  Allen  Sanford  while  we  were  out 
driving  this  afternoon,"  she  said. 

"  Did  you?"  he  asked,  with  interest.  "  I  knew  he  was 
in  Washington  and  should  have  told  you.  His  father 
wrote  me  about  him  last  week,  and  I  was  planning  to 
invite  him  here.  How  has  he  developed  since  we  used  to 
know  him?" 

"  Splendidly,"  Alice  answered.  "  He's  a  big  strap 
ping  fellow  with  the  same  handsome,  happy  face.  I 
should  have  known  him  anywhere.  He  wants  to  get 
started  in  business,  and  his  father  wants  him  to  go  into 
the  diplomatic  service." 

"  So  Stephen  wrote  me."  Gorham  laughed  quietly, 
turning  to  his  wife,  who  had  entered  a  moment  before 
with  Patricia.  "  The  boy's  father  is  the  worst  enemy  he 
has.  He  has  thoroughly  spoiled  him  all  his  life,  and  now 
expects  him  to  do  great  things.  He  scores  him  because 
he  has  no  initiative,  and  the  first  time  the  youngster  tries 
to  exercise  it  by  expressing  his  preference  for  business 
instead  of  diplomacy,  Stephen  calls  him  obstinate  and 
ungrateful.  Now  he  wants  me  to  talk  with  Allen  and 
persuade  him  that  his  father  is  right." 

"  If  you  are  not  otherwise  engaged  you'll  have  a 
chance  to  -  morrow  evening,"  remarked  Mrs.  Gorham ; 
"  we  have  invited  him  to  dine  with  us." 

"  Good ;  I  shall  be  glad  to  see  the  boy,  and  can  acquit 

[13] 


THE      LEVER 


myself  of  my  obligation  to  his  father  at  the  same  time. 
Hello,  Mistress  Patricia,"  he  added,  catching  the  child 
in  his  arms.  "  What  has  my  little  tyrant  been  up  to?" 

"Call  me  'Lady  Pat,'"  she  said,  grandly.  "  He 
named  me  that." 

"  Who  did  ?"  her  father  asked,  his  mind  diverted  from 
the  previous  conversation. 

"  Mr.  Sanford."  Patricia  rolled  her  eyes  impressively. 
"  Oh,  he's  the  grandest  thing !  He  must  be  a  prince  in 
disguise." 

"  That  isn't  what  his  father  calls  him,"  laughed 
Gorham. 

"  What  are  you  going  to  advise  him?"  Eleanor  asked. 

"  I  can't  tell  until  I  see  him  and  discover  how  much 
imagination  he  has." 

"  Imagination?"  his  wife  queried. 

"  Yes ;  is  that  a  new  idea  to  you  ?  Ability  never  as 
serts  itself  to  its  utmost  unless  fed  by  the  imagination, 
and  I  don't  know  yet  whether  Allen  possesses  either. 
Success  in  any  line  depends  upon  the  extent  of  a  man's 
power  of  imagination." 

"  Then  why  don't  poets  make  business  successes  ? 
They  have  imaginative  ideas,"  argued  Alice,  thinking 
of  her  remarks  upon  this  subject  earlier  in  the  after 
noon. 

"  True  "--Gorham  smiled  at  her  earnestness — "  great 
poets  are  inspired,  but  rarely,  if  ever,  do  they  apply 
those  inspirations  to  practical  purposes.  That  is  why 
they  so  seldom  enter  business,  and  still  more  rarely  suc 
ceed  if  they  do." 

His  face  sobered  as  the  idea  took  firmer  possession  of 
him. 

"  I  differ  from  the  poet  only  in  that  I  make  use  of 


THE      LEVER 


my  imaginative  ideas  in  solving  the  great  business  prob 
lems  of  the  present  and  the  future  instead  of  in  forming 
rhymes  and  metres.  To  do  this  I  must  command  un 
limited  resources ;  but  what  does  money  mean  except  the 
opportunity  to  gratify  ideals  ?  With  this  I  can  force  my 
imagination  to  produce  utilitarian  results." 

This  would  have  been  Robert  Gorham's  exposition  of 
his  conception  of  the  Archimedes  lever,  as  opposed  to 
that  which  Allen  Sanford  had  heard  his  father  give. 
To  Gorham  the  power  of  the  lever  depended  upon  the 
strength  of  the  imaginative  ideals,  and  the  "  cold,  hard 
cash  "  was  simply  the  necessary  fulcrum  upon  which  the 
lever  rested. 


II 


"  ^TTMIK  proposition  is  too  gigantic  for  me  even  to 

comprehend." 

•••  The  Hon.  Mr.  Kcmnore,  member  of  the  United 
States  Senate,  laid  down  the  bulky  prospectus  of  the 
"  Consolidated  Companies,"  and  looked  up  into  his 
caller's  genial  face. 

Gorham  flicked  the  ash  from  his  cigar  and  smiled 
good-naturedly.  "  That  is,  perhaps,  a  natural  state 
ment,  Mr.  Kcnmorc,"  he  replied,  deliberately.  "  I  am 
not  surprised  that  you  find  it  difficult  to  comprehend  the 
vast  possibilities  of  our  enterprise;  yet  its  success,  al 
ready  established,  must  convince  you  that  no  good  argu 
ment  can  be  advanced  against,  its  practicability." 

"  But  see  what  it  contemplates !"  The  Senator  again 
took  the  prospectus  in  his  hand  and  opened  the  pages. 
"  You  propose  to  control  the  building  and  the  manu 
facturing  of  the  world,"  he  continued,  reading  aloud 
from  the  prospectus,  "  and  all  the  allied  trades,  to  con 
struct  and  deal  in  all  kinds  of  machinery,  to  carry  on 
any  other  kinds  of  businesses,  to  acquire  patents  and  con 
cessions,  to  erect  and  maintain  gas  and  electric  works,  to 
enter  into  any  arrangement  with  any  government,  to 
promote  companies,  to  lend  money — 

"  It  is  summed  up  in  that  last  clause,"  Gorham  in 
terrupted,  quietly ;  "  *  to  do  all  such  other  things  as  arc 

[16] 


incidental  or  conducive  to  the  attainment  of  the  above 
objects.'  You  see,  I  know  the  articles  by  heart.  May 
I  ask  you  to  glance  over  the  names  of  the  present  stock 
holders?" 

Gorham  handed  a  leather-covered  record-book  to  his 
companion  and  then  walked  to  the  window,  where  he 
quietly  smoked  his  cigar,  looking  out  on  the  broad  ave 
nue  while  the  Senator  scanned  the  names  written  in  the 
small  volume.  He  appeared  indifferent  to  the  smothered 
exclamations  which  escaped  involuntarily  from  Kenmorc's 
lips  as  the  latter's  eye  passed  on  from  page  to  page,  and 
for  the  time  being  he  seemed  more  deeply  interested  in 
the  people  passing  below  on  the  street.  His  calmness  was 
in  striking  contrast  to  the  Senator's  growing  excitement. 

"  By  George !"  Kcnmore  exclaimed  at  length,  rising 
and  advancing  toward  the  window.  "  This  list  of  names 
is  even  more  extraordinary  than  your  stupendous  plans." 

"  Docs  not  each  one  explain  the  other?"  asked  Gorham. 

"  But  how  did  you  ever  persuade  such  men  as  these  to 
lend  themselves  to  any  enterprise — no  matter  how  at 
tractive?  Why,  there  is  hardly  an  omission — the  leaders 
of  the  world  in  finance,  politics,  diplomacy,  literature,  art, 
and  science." 

"  There  are  many  omissions,  as  you  would  discover  if 
you  examined  the  list  more  carefully,"  Gorham  answered ; 
"  not  the  least  of  which  is  the  name  of  the  Hon.  Mr. 
Kcnmore !" 

"  I  know,  I  know,"  the  Senator  replied,  impatiently ; 
"  but  how  did  you  get  them  ?" 

Gorham  looked  at  his  questioner  attentively  for  a  mo 
ment  before  he  answered.  "  The  proposition  itself 
appeals  to  that  human  instinct  which  is  more  or  less 

developed  in  us  all — self-interest — 
2  [17] 


THE      LEVER 


"  But  that,  my  dear  sir,  is  nothing  more  or  less 
than—" 

Gorham  held  up  a  protesting  hand.  "  Let  me  save 
you  from  using  so  ugly  a  word  as  you  have  in  mind, 
Senator.  You  arc  fully  justified  in  having  this  thought 
suggest  itself  to  you — such  is  the  business  code  of  morals 
of  to-day.  Yet  I  consider  myself  an  idealist,  and  the 
whole  plan  on  which  the  Consolidated  Companies  is 
based  a  moral  one.  I  must  have  succeeded  in  convincing 
these  men,  whose  characters  are  admittedly  above  re 
proach,  or  they  could  not  have  been  persuaded  to  become 
associated  with  our  corporation." 

"  Idealism,  monopoly,  and  self-interest  seem  ill-mated 
partners,  Mr.  Gorham." 

"  Must  monopoly  and  self-interest  always  be  trans 
lated  into  selfishness  and  oppression?" 

"  As  far  as  I  have  observed  they  always  have  been,1' 
Kenmore  asserted. 

"  Perhaps  so ;  but  must  they  necessarily  be  so  ex 
ercised?  Is  it  not  possible  to  control  these  human  in 
stincts  to  the  extent  of  producing  beneficent  results?" 

The  Senator  considered.  "  I  cannot  conceive  it  to  be 
even  within  the  bounds  of  possibility." 

"  Then,  unless  I  can  convince  you  to  the  contrary,  I 
shall  cheerfully  withdraw  my  proposition,"  Gorham  re 
plied,  with  decision.  "  You  will  admit,  I  feel  sure,  that 
were  I  to  eliminate  self-interest  the  great  consolidation 
Avhich  we  are  discussing  could  not  exist." 

"  Absolutely." 

"  Will  you  also  admit  the  possibility — I  do  not  yet  say 
probability — of  conducting  an  organization  such  as  the 
Consolidated  Companies  along  lines  which  might  be  for 
the  public  good  ?" 

[18] 


THE     LEVER 


"  Provided  the  public  received  the  benefits  of  such 
economies  as  your  consolidations  effected." 

"  Precisely — or  even  a  part  of  these  economies.  Now, 
many  of  our  stockholders,  whose  names  you  see  on  that 
list,  are  in  positions  of  trust.  Our  directors  have  en 
deavored  to  select  only  those  whose  reputations  guaran 
tee  the  honorable  observance  of  their  responsibilities." 

"  Then  how  can  they  serve  the  Consolidated  Com 
panies?" 

"  Let  me  explain  more  clearly,"  Gorham  continued. 
"  A  franchise  for  a  street  railway  expires — here  in  Wash 
ington,  in  Chicago,  in  London,  or  in  Vienna.  Those  who 
are  influential  in  awarding  the  new  franchise  are  among 
our  stockholders.  It  is  to  their  self-interest,  truly,  to 
place  the  franchise  in  the  hands  of  the  Consolidated 
Companies,  but  it  is  also  to  the  best  interests  of  the  pub 
lic,  who,  after  all,  are  most  concerned,  because  the  Com 
panies  is  equipped  with  men  and  funds  to  give  them 
greater  efficiency  or  cheaper  transportation  than  any 
smaller  organization  could  possibly  afford  to  do.  In 
awarding  us  the  franchise,  therefore,  these  officials  are 
in  no  way  proving  themselves  false  to  their  trust." 

Gorham  studied  the  half-averted  face  of  his  companion 
carefully  before  he  proceeded.  "  Do  you  follow  me?" 

"  Perfectly,  although  not  wholly  sympathetically,"  the 
Senator  replied. 

Gorham  smiled  at  Kenmore's  frankness.  "  Suppose  a 
government  requires  a  loan  of,  say,  fifty  million  pounds 
sterling,"  he  continued.  "  Here  in  this  little  book  you 
will  find  the  names  of  practically  all  the  financial  heads 
of  the  governments  of  the  world.  You  will  also  find  here 
the  leading  figures  in  the  world  of  finance.  What  is  more 
natural  than  that  the  Consolidated  Companies  be  asked 

[19] 


THE      LEVER 


to  negotiate  the  loan,  to  the  distinct  advantage  of  both 
parties  and  of  the  Companies  itself?  Incidentally  I 
might  say  that  we  shall  eventually  establish  an  inter 
national  bank  which  will  further  simplify  details.  If  it 
is  a  matter  of  building  bridges,  we  have  among  our 
stockholders  the  officials  who  will  award  the  contracts 
and  the  engineers  best  fitted  to  execute  them.  Acting 
as  a  medium  for  both  creator  and  producer,  and  in 
serving  their  mutual  self-interest,  the  Consolidated  Com 
panies  can  easily  become  the  greatest  patron  of  the  arts, 
both  fine  and  mechanical,  that  the  world  has  ever  seen, — 
and  all  this,  with  profit  to  itself.  Could  anything  be 
simpler?" 

"  You  are  prepared  to  build  navies  and  also  sub 
marines  to  destroy  them?" 

"  '  To  do  all  such  other  things  as  are  incidental  or 
conducive   to   the    attainment    of   the   above    objects,' ' 
quoted  Gorham ;  "  but  our  energies  are  always  exerted 
in  constructive  directions." 

The  Senator  became  absorbed  in  his  own  thoughts 
and  was  silent  for  several  moments. 

"  I  don't  see  yet  how  those  men  were  persuaded  to 
associate  themselves  with  your  corporation,"  he  said, 
more  to  himself  than  to  his  companion.  "  The  vast  busi 
ness  advantages  which  it  already  possesses  are  quite  ap 
parent,  but  I  cannot  reconcile  the  conflict  which  must 
exist  between  the  dual  capacities  of  your  stockholders  as 
individuals  and  as  public  officials  or  officers  of  trust. 
Without  intending  to  cast  reflections  upon  any  name  I 
have  seen,  I  can  scarcely  resist  asking  myself  if  every 
man  has  his  price." 

"  I  claim  he  has,"  Gorham  stated. 

The  Senator  turned  upon  him  sharply.     "  Then  my 
[20] 


THE     LEVER 


first  impressions  of  the  principles  of  your  enterprise  were 
correct.  I  beg — 

"  Please  hear  me  out,  Senator,"  Gorham  urged.  "  I 
believe  implicitly  that  what  I  have  just  said  is  true,  yet 
I  venture  to  repeat  to  you  that  I  consider  myself  an 
idealist  and  an  optimist.  A  man's  '  price  '  has  come  to 
be  associated  with  money.  I  know  this  phase — what  busi 
ness  man  docs  not?  But  beyond  this,  are  there  not  far 
subtler  influences,  which  in  one  form  or  another  draw 
every  man  away  from  the  course  he  would  naturally 
steer  for  himself  as  surely  as  the  iron  deflects  the  mag 
net's  needle?  Ambition  influences  an  honorable  legis 
lator  apparently  to  condone  acts  which  he  knows  are 
wrong,  that  he  may  gain  a  Governor's  chair,  from  which 
position  he  can  more  surely  crush  out  the  evils  he  has 
always  recognized  and  abhorred.  I  do  not  say  that  all 
our  stockholders  are  influenced  by  the  guarantee  I  have 
given  them  that  a  franchise  or  a  concession  awarded  to 
the  Consolidated  Companies  means  an  advantage  to  the 
people  they  serve,  but  I  have  at  least  convinced  them 
by  word  and  act  of  my  own  sincerity,  and  of  the  pos 
sibility  of  so  conducting  the  Companies  that  these  results 
can  be  obtained.  I  do  not  even  say  that  every  public 
official  who  co-operates  with  us  is  actuated  by  the  highest 
motives  in  giving  the  Consolidated  Companies  special 
privileges,  but  I  do  say  that  he  may  properly  be  so 
actuated — and  the  public  receives  the  benefits." 

"  But  think  of  the  power  which  this  corporation  must 
eventually  possess,  and  the  powerlessness  of  any  in 
dividual  or  organization,  business  or  otherwise,  to 
oppose  it." 

"  Why  should  they  wish  to  oppose  it?"  Gorham 
continued.  "  As  I  have  said,  the  combinations  sug- 

[21] 


THE     LEVER 


gestcd  can  but  result  in  economics  in  production  and 
consequent  reductions  in  the  living  expenses  of  the 
masses." 

"  Yet  you  would  hardly  suggest  that  the  Consolidated 
Companies  has  been  launched  as  a  philanthropic  enter 
prise  ?" 

Gorham's  smile  returned.  "  Not  primarily,  yet  the 
people  have  already  been  benefited  in  no  small  degree. 
It  is  entirely  possible  to  conduct  it  along  lines  which 
will  reduce  the  cost  of  all  public  utilities  and  necessities, 
and  yet  secure  large  financial  returns  to  the  Companies." 

"  I  was  thinking — "  Kenmore  began,  and  then 
stopped. 

"  Well?"  Gorham  encouraged,  interrogatively. 

" 1  was  thinking  what  an  easy  thing  it  is  to  mistake 
a  temptation  for  an  opportunity." 

"  Or  the  reverse,"  Gorham  remarked,  significantly, 
flushing  slightly.  "  Docs  it  not  all  depend  upon  the 
basis  on  which  the  corporation  is  administered?" 

As  the  Senator  ventured  no  reply,  Gorham  continued, 
with  more  feeling  than  he  had  as  yet  displayed: 

"  You  and  I,  Mr.  Kcnmorc,  are  familiar  with  the 
contention  made  by  our  great  captains  of  industry  that 
they  are  entitled  to  the  vast  fortunes  which  they  have 
amassed  as  a  return  for  the  benefits  which  the  public 
enjoys  as  a  result  of  their  cnegy  and  the  risks  they  have 
taken.  They  have  opened  up  new  sections  of  the  coun 
try,  provided  transportation  facilities  which  were  pre 
viously  lacking,  or  have  increased  those  which  already 
existed;  they  have  multiplied  industries  which  promoted 
increase  in  population  and  trade,  and  have  thus  largely 
contributed  to  the  prosperity  enjoyed  by  the  communities 
themselves  and  by  the  country  at  large." 

[22] 


"  All  of  which  the  Consolidated  Companies  claims  to 
be  doing,  or  about  to  do,  upon  a  scale  which  makes 
similar  past  achievements  seem  insignificant,"  inter 
rupted  Kenmore. 

"  Yes,"  Gorham  assented,  "  but  with  a  fuller  appre 
ciation  that  these  accomplishments  are  not  the  results 
alone  of  individual  ability,  but  far  more  of  the  exercise 
of  the  corporate  power  placed  in  its  hands,  not  for  its 
unlimited  personal  gain,  but  intrusted  to  it  by  law  for 
public  advantage.  The  law  confers  upon  a  corporate 
organization  a  power  far  beyond  that  which  any  indi 
vidual  himself  could  obtain ;  it  enables  him  to  make  use 
of  capital  which  thousands  have  contributed,  toward 
whom  he  stands  in  a  relation  of  trust,  and  without  whom 
he  could  not  accomplish  the  individual  triumphs  which 
become  so  magnified  in  his  own  mind,  and  for  which  he 
demands  so  great  a  recompense.  The  Consolidated 
Companies  considers  itself  bound  to  use  franchise  privi 
leges  and  corporate  organization  for  the  equal  benefit 
of  all  those  who  contribute  of  their  capital,  with  due 
regard  for  those  public  interests  which  corporations  are 
created  to  serve,  and  to  rest  content  with  a  fair  return 
upon  its  own  capital  and  a  reasonable  compensation  for 
their  services,  on  the  part  of  the  officers  of  the  enter 
prises  of  which  it  assumes  the  responsibility  and  di 
rection." 

"  How  long  do  you  think  the  Consolidated  Companies 
can  be  run  upon  such  altruistic  principles?" 

"As  long  as  Robert  Gorham  remains  its  president  and 
as  long  as  those  men  whose  names  you  have  seen  there 
remain  its  directors.  This  is  my  pledge.  When  the 
Consolidated  Companies,  intrusted  with  the  power, 
credit,  and  resources  of  the  many  corporations  which 

[  23  ] 


THE      LEVER 


are  and  will  he  included  in  it,  but  which  are  not  agencies 
of  its  own  creation  and  do  not  belong  to  it,  begins  to 
take  advantage  of  these  for  personal  profit  beyond  legiti 
mate  return  upon  investment  and  fair  compensation  for 
services  rendered,  it  will  be  guilty  of  a  gross  betrayal 
of  trust.  When  it  issues  securities  in  excess  of  the  re 
quirements  of  its  business  and  manipulates  them  for  its 
own  profit ;  when  it  makes  use  of  its  power,  its  funds,  or 
its  credit  in  enterprises  which  arc  not  for  the  equal 
benefit  of  all  who  have  contributed  to  its  capital  or  in 
the  interest  of  the  public,  which  gives  it  its  power; 
when  it  employs  its  profits  so  as  to  affect  the  market 
value  of  securities  and  then  speculates  in  these  for  its 
own  advantage, — then  it  will  be  flagrantly  abusing  a 
power  which  has  been  given  to  it  in  trust,  and  its  unique 
position  in  the  business  world  will  be  destroyed." 

There  was  another  long  silence,  which  this  time  was 
not  broken  until  the  Senator  was  quite  ready  to  speak. 
When  the  moment  came  the  question  was  asked  abruptly : 

"  How  much  can  you  consistently  tell  me  of  any  of 
the  corporation's  transactions?  I  know  of  them,  of 
course,  by  hearsay,  but  I  should  be  glad  to  receive 
more  intimate  information." 

"  Nothing,  without  assurances  of  your  serious  inter 
est,  provided  I  can  demonstrate  to  your  satisfaction  the 
strength  of  the  facts  I  have  mentioned ;  everything  when 
you  care  to  give  me  these  assurances." 

The  Senator  winced.  He  had  expected  to  meet  a  man 
with  whose  type  he  was  perfectly  familiar,  to  explain 
to  him  that  the  private  affairs  of  the  Hon.  James  Ken- 
more,  business  or  otherwise,  were  always  kept  entirely 
distinct  from  his  political  life,  and  to  dismiss  him  with 
merely  the  courtesy  demanded  by  the  unusually  strong 

[24] 


THE      LEVER 


letters  which  had  introduced  him.  But  Robert  Gorham 
did  not  belong  to  the  expected  type.  There  were  no  ear 
marks  of  the  promoter  about  him,  in  spite  of  the  fact 
that  the  enterprise  of  which  he  stood  as  the  head  and 
front  was  in  reality  the  most  gigantic  piece  of  promotion 
engineering  the  world  had  seen.  On  the  contrary,  Gor 
ham  was  the  refined  man  of  affairs,  confident  in  himself 
and  in  the  certainty  of  his  strength.  And  as  for  dis 
missal,  the  Senator  realized  that  his  caller  had  already 
made  himself  the  dominant  power. 

"  You  wish  me  to  subscribe  for  stock  in  this  corpora 
tion  to  the  extent  of  a  hundred  thousand  dollars?" 

"  I  am  empowered  by  our  directors  to  offer  you  the 
opportunity  to  subscribe  for  that  amount." 

The  Senator  passed  over  the  obvious  correction. 

"  Why  am  I  selected  by  your  directors  rather  than 
others  of  my  colleagues  whose  names  I  do  not  observe 
upon  that  list?" 

"  Because  we  consider  your  position  in  the  United 
States  Senate  to  be  one  of  increasing  importance,  and  of 
value  to  the  Companies,"  Gorham  answered,  frankly. 

"  Why  has  the  specific  amount  of  my  desired  subscrip 
tion  been  so  carefully  stipulated?" 

"  Because  your  investment  in  the  Consolidated  Com 
panies  must  be  heavy  enough  in  its  relation  to  your  per 
sonal  fortune  to  make  the  success  of  the  corporation  a 
matter  of  real  concern  to  you." 

"Are  these  amounts,  then,  uniform  in  size?" 

"  Not  at  all.  A  hundred  thousand  dollars  to  you 
may  be  no  more  than  five  thousand  to  some  other  stock 
holder,  and  no  less,  on  the  other  hand,  than  half  a 
million  to  a  third.  In  every  case  the  amount  of  the 
subscription  is  carefully  considered." 

[251 


THE      LEVER 


"  Your  directors  have  made  a  preliminary  estimate 
of  my  financial  standing?" 

"  Certainly." 

Kcnmore  smiled  incredulously.  "  Would  it  be  asking 
too  much  to  inquire  what  the  inventory,  made  by  your 
experts,  shows?" 

"  One  million  two  hundred  thousand,"  Gorham  re 
sponded,  promptly.  "  Except  for  your  unfortunate  in 
vestment  in  the  Arizona  oil-wells  a  year  ago,  it  might 
have  been  half  a  million  more  —  a  loss  which  your 
fortunate  connection  during  the  past  three  years  as  a 
special  partner  in  the  well  -  known  banking  -  house  of 
Gilroy  &  Company  has  more  than  made  up." 

The  Senator  sprang  excitedly  to  his  feet.  "  By 
George!  sir,  by  what  power  or  authority  do  you  make 
yourself  aware  of  my  private  affairs  down  practically 
to  the  last  penny?" 

"  I  apologize,  Senator,  if  I  answered  your  question 
too  literally,"  Gorham  replied,  quietly. 

"  But  how  do  you  know  it?" 

"  I  neglected  to  state  that  the  secret-service  depart 
ment  of  the  Consolidated  Companies  excels  in  efficiency 
that  of  any  government.  You  can  readily  appreciate 
its  importance." 

"  And  you  know  with  equal  minuteness  the  financial 
condition  of  every  man  on  that  list?" 

Gorham  nodded.  "Yes;  and  of  every  individual, 
corporation,  business  house,  and  government  wherever  it 
is  of  any  value  to  us  to  know  it." 

Kenmore  again  relapsed  into  silence.  He  was  experi 
encing  a  larger  number  of  new  sensations  during  his  con 
ference  than  he  remembered  ever  having  had  aroused  by 
any  previous  discussion.  He  was  angrv  with  himself 

[20] 


THE     LEVER 


for  having  permitted  the  interview,  he  was  incensed  by 
the  proposition  itself  and  the  apparent  unassailability  of 
the  Companies,  he  was  annoyed  by  Gorham's  good  man 
ners  and  his  complete  self-control.  Never  once  had  this 
man,  who  appeared  to  have  his  finger  upon  the  pulse  of 
the  world,  allowed  his  attitude  even  to  approach  en 
thusiasm.  He  simply  presented  facts,  and  then  allowed 
them  to  tell  their  own  story. 

"  You  are  at  liberty,  sir,  to  acquaint  me  with  the 
transactions  of  the  Consolidated  Companies,"  the  Sen 
ator  finally  remarked. 

"  Probably  a  few  specific  cases  will  suffice,"  Gorham 
responded,  as  if  expecting  to  receive  Kenmore's  per 
mission.  "  You  will  remember,  perhaps,  the  apparently 
insurmountable  complications  which  arose  over  the  plac 
ing  of  the  recent  loan  of  fifty  million  dollars  to  the 
Chinese  government,  for  their  currency  reforms  and 
other  necessary  improvements.  As  soon  as  the  Con 
solidated  Companies  assumed  the  responsibility  of  the 
negotiations,  all  international  bickerings  ceased,  for  the 
Chinese,  French,  German,  English,  and  American  finan 
ciers  knew  that  the  loan  would  be  handled  to  the  ad 
vantage  of  all.  I  could  cite,  perhaps,  a  hundred  cases 
of  similar  importance,  would  time  permit.  As  for  the 
present,  you  are  aware  that  England  is  building  several 
great  men-of-war  to  restore  its  navy  to  its  previous  su 
premacy.  The  contracts  for  this  work  have  been  placed 
in  the  hands  of  the  Consolidated  Companies.  Our  polit 
ical  strength  was  tested  in  a  small  way  two  years  ago 
in  causing  a  cessation  of  hostilities  between  Austria 
and  her  neighbors.  We  shall  be  strong  enough  be 
fore  the  war  cloud  gathers  too  heavily  over  England 
and  Germany  to  prevent  the  grievous  calamity  which 

[27] 


THE      LEVER 


threatens  these  nations.  Shall  I  give  you  other 
data?" 

"  But  the  Consolidated  Companies  separates  the 
world  into  two  parts —  '  the  Senator  began. 

"  Precisely — into  those  who  are  stockholders  and  those 
who  are  not.  Both  arc  benefited  by  the  existence  of  the 
corporation.  But  is  there  any  question  as  to  which  is  the 
more  favored  class?" 

"  None  whatever,"  Kenmore  replied,  with  decision. 

"  Then  may  I  call  to-morrow  to  learn  in  which  class 
you  decide  to  place  yourself?"  Gorhani  asked,  as  he  rose 
and  slipped  into  his  overcoat. 

"  No,"  the  Senator  replied,  after  a  moment's  thought. 
"  I  will  send  my  secretary  to  you  to  arrange  the  matter 
of  taking  over  stock  to  the  amount  of  one  hundred  thou 
sand  dollars  in  the  Consolidated  Companies — Unlim 
ited!" 


Ill 


IF  punctuality  is  a  virtue  presaging  business  success, 
Allen  gave  evidence,  the  following  afternoon,  of  a 
brilliant  future.  Previously,  he  had  made  no  criti 
cism  of  the  condition  in  which  his  motor-car  was  deliv 
ered  to  him  at  the  garage,  but  this  time  the  men  found 
him  strangely  unreasonable.  The  brasses  had  to  be  repol- 
ished,  the  hood  opened  up,  and  the  dust  wiped  from  the 
long-neglected  creases,  and  every  detail  was  inspected 
with  a  carefulness  which  created  comment. 

"  Goin'  to  sell  his  car,"  one  of  the  men  remarked,  sen- 
tentiously,  to  which  sage  comment  his  companion  nodded 
acquiescence. 

In  spite  of  the  delay  thus  caused,  Allen  shut  off  his 
power  in  front  of  the  hotel  entrance  at  exactly  the  ap 
pointed  hour.  He  bounded  into  the  lobby,  and  a  few 
moments  later  was  ushered  into  the  elevator  and  guided 
to  the  Gorhams'  apartment. 

"  Why,  it's  Riley !"  the  caller  exclaimed,  enthusias 
tically,  as  the  door  was  opened  for  him  by  Mr.  Gorham's 
aged  retainer — "  it's  the  same  Riley  who  used  to  box  my 
ears  when  I  tramped  over  his  flower-beds  in  Pittsburgh." 

The  old  man  regarded  the  visitor  attentively.  "  Shure 
it's  Misther  Allen  Sanford,  grown  out  iv  his  short  pants 
into  a  fine  young  man,  so  he  has."  A  broad  grin  re 
placed  the  questioning  expression  on  his  face.  "  I  did 

[29] 


THE      LEVER 


box  ye'er  ears  good,  didn't  I,  sor?  but  go  along  wid  ycr, 
th'  trouble  ye  made  me,  ye  an'  Miss  Alice  a-traipsin' 
over  me  flower-beds."  Then,  with  a  sigh :  "  Ah,  sor,  I 
remimber  it  as  if  'twas  yisterday.  Miss  Alice's  mother 
was  livin'  thin,  God  rist  her  soul.  Thank  ye,  sor,  fr 
reinimbcrin'  me.  I'll  call  Mrs.  Gorham  an'  Miss  Alice." 

It  was  the  girl  who  appeared  first,  greeting  Allen  with 
frank  cordiality. 

"  Eleanor  will  be  ready  in  a  moment,"  she  said. 
"  Isn't  this  the  greatest  coincidence?"  she  continued. 
"  Yesterday  at  this  time  I  had  no  idea  you  were  within 
a  thousand  miles,  and  now  it  seems  as  if  we  might  almost 
be  back  in  Pittsburgh  again,  living  the  same  childish 
life  and  playing  the  same  games." 

"  It  was  certainly  a  dandy  coincidence  for  me,"  Allen 
agreed,  "  but  I  don't  quite  follow  you  back  to  the  kid 
games  we  played." 

"  Why,  Allen !"  Alice  reproached  him,  "  have  you 
forgotten  the  motor  rides  you  and  I  took  with  wash-tubs, 
turned  upside  down,  for  seats,  and  the  remnant  of 
your  express-wagon  for  a  steering-wheel  ?  My !  how 
fast  we  used  to  go !" 

"  That's  so !"  he  admitted.  "  I'd  forgotten  all  about 
it.  You  used  to  look  great  sitting  on  that  tub." 

"Freckles  and  all?" 

"  I  didn't  remember  the  freckles,  either,  until  you 
spoke  of  them.  You  were  a  little  corker,  even  then." 

"  Even  then?"  Alice  repeated,  without  intending  to. 

"  No  one  has  told  you  that  you've  gone  backward  in 
looks,  has  he?"  Allen  laughed,  looking  straight  into  her 
face.  Then  lie  continued :  "  There's  one  other  game 
we  played,  which  I  haven't  forgotten :  Do  you  remem 
ber  how  we  used  to  keep  house  together?  You  were 

[30] 


THE     LEVER 


Mrs.  Allen  Sanford  then,  and  we  had  everything  fixed 
up—" 

Alice  sobered.  "  I — I  think  I  have  forgotten  that 
one,"  she  said.  "  Isn't  it  ridiculous  what  games  children 
do  play?" 

"  But  the  motor-car  game  has  come  true,"  he  insisted, 
"  and  you'll  look  just  as  good  to  me  sitting  in  the  real 
car,  as  you  used  to  on  top  of  that  tub.  And  as  for  the 
other—" 

"  How  long  Eleanor  is  taking !"  she  interrupted ;  I'll 
run  and  find  her."  With  which  she  disappeared,  return 
ing  almost  immediately,  accompanied  by  Mrs.  Gorham. 

"  I  sha'nt  be  asked  again,  if  I  keep  you  waiting  so 
long,  shall  I?"  Eleanor  apologized. 

"  The  appointed  time  always  arrives  at  the  same  mo 
ment  that  Mrs.  Gorham  does,"  Allen  replied. 

"  So !"  Eleanor  was  frankly  surprised  by  the  boy's 
gallantry.  "  If  this  is  a  sample,  I  must  agree  with  your 
father  that  diplomacy  is  your  natural  field.  It  would 
be  a  pity  to  waste  that  in  a  business  office." 

"  Don't  you  join  the  opposition,  Mrs.  Gorham,"  he 
said,  seriously.  "  I'm  going  to  have  a  hard  enough  time 
with  the  pater  as  it  is.  Now,  if  you're  ready,  shall  we 
start?  It  isn't  going  to  be  the  most  sociable  arrange 
ment  in  the  world,  with  me  driving  the  car,  but  we'll 
go  slowly,  which  will  give  us  a  chance  to  visit." 

With  Fort  Meyer  as  the  objective  point,  Allen  took 
the  road  through  Rock  Creek  Park  to  Chevy  Chase,  feel 
ing  attracted,  perhaps  unconsciously,  because  it  was 
there  he  had  renewed  this  acquaintance  which  promised 
to  end  the  ennui  he  had  experienced  during  the  weeks 
he  had  spent  in  Washington.  Slowing  his  speed  down 
to  a  point  requiring  the  least  attention,  he  was  able  to 

[31] 


THE      LEVER 


converse  with  his  guests.  Alice  had  said  little  since  they 
left  the  hotel,  but  at  last  she  found  an  opportunity  to 
free  her  mind. 

"  Eleanor  wasn't  serious  in  what  she  said  about  your 
going  into  diplomacy,  Allen.  Any  ability  a  man  has 
in  that  line  is  just  as  valuable  in  business." 

Mrs.  Gorham  laughed  as  she  turned  to  Alice.  "  Has 
that  been  troubling  you,  my  dear?"  Then  to  Allen: 
"  You  touched  on  a  very  live  wire  when  you  said  what 
you  did  yesterday,  Mr.  Sanford.  Alice  thinks  that  a 
man  who  chooses  anything  but  a  business  career  is  blind 
to  what  life  offers  him." 

"  You  do  too,  don't  you,  Allen?"  the  girl  asked. 

"  Why — yes,"  he  answered.  "  I  haven't  exactly  ana 
lyzed  it,  but  I  know  I'd  rather  go  into  business  than  into 
the  diplomatic  service." 

"  But  you  must  have  some  reason  for  it,"  she  urged. 

"  I  have — I  don't  want  to  spend  my  life  in  other 
countries.  Little  old  New  York  is  good  enough  for  me. 
I  have  lots  of  friends  there,  and  that's  where  I'd  like 
to  settle  down." 

"  New  York  is  a  hard  place  for  a  young  man  to  start 
his  career,"  said  Mrs.  Gorham.  "  You  will  find  there  an 
absolute  intolerance  for  the  man  in  the  making.  New 
York  demands  the  finished  product." 

"  But  you  don't  have  to  start  in  New  York,"  Alice 
added.  "  You  could  make  your  success  in  some  other 
city,  and  then  come  to  New  York  if  you  wanted  to." 

Allen  became  unusually  thoughtful  as  the  conversa 
tion  progressed. 

"  Gee !"  he  said ;  "  I  knew  that  I  wanted  to  go  into 
business,  but  I  didn't  realize  how  much  there  was  to 
think  over  before  doing  it." 

[32] 


THE      LEVER 


"  But  it's  worth  all  the  time  and  thought  you  can 
give  to  it,"  the  girl  said,  enthusiastically.  "  I  can't 
imagine  anything  grander  than  to  stand  at  the  threshold 
of  the  world  ready  to  enter  the  battle  of  life,  to  struggle 
with  the  obstacles  and  to  conquer  them.  Think,  Allen — 
just  think  of  what  you  have  before  you,  while  we  girls 
never  get  any  such  chance  at  all." 

"  Yes."  Allen  hesitated,  carried  off  his  feet  by  the 
intensity  of  the  words  and  the  rapt  expression  of  her 
face.  "  Yes,  I  guess  it  is  grand,  though  it  never  struck 
me  just  that  way  before.  I  say! —  "  he  continued,  after 
a  moment's  pause,  "  you're  an  enthusiast  on  this  busi 
ness  question,  aren't  you?" 

"  Could  she  be  Robert  Gorham's  daughter  and  not 
be  an  enthusiast?"  Mrs.  Gorham  asked. 

"  If  father  would  only  let  me,  I  know  I  could  make 
a  success  in  business,"  Alice  continued.  "  I  watch  him, 
when  he  least  suspects  it ;  I  study  the  papers  which  he 
leaves  around,  and  sometimes  it  seems  as  if  I  just  must 
be  a  boy,  and  get  into  the  thick  of  it." 

"  What  a  funny  idea !"  Allen  remarked.  "  I  never 
thought  girls  cared  anything  about  business." 

"  But  it's  no  use,"  she  bemoaned.  "  I've  got  to  be  a 
girl  whether  I  like  it  or  not;  but  you  haven't  any  such 
handicap." 

"  Haven't  I  ? — you  forget  the  pater." 

"  If  you  felt  as  strongly  about  it  as  I  do,  you  could 
persuade  him." 

"Have  you — met  the  pater?"  he  asked,  significantly. 

Alice  smiled  for  a  moment,  and  then  became  serious 
again.  "  If  you  have  determination  enough  to  succeed 
in  business,  Allen,  the  same  characteristic  will  win  out 
with  your  father." 

3  [33] 


THE      LEVER 


The  boy  did  not  know  quite  what  to  answer.  Stephen 
Sanford  insisted  that  the  only  reason  Allen  showed  a 
preference  for  business  was  because  he  knew  his  father 
had  set  his  heart  on  a  different  career  for  him.  It  may 
have  been  merely  an  unconscious  assertion  of  his  budding 
manhood  which  rebelled  against  having  his  life-work 
laid  out  for  him  without  consultation,  just  as  his  gov 
erness  used  to  lay  out  his  clothes.  At  all  events,  from 
his  very  nature,  Allen  had  not  considered  the  matter  as 
seriously  as  he  now  saw  Alice  had  done,  and  he  was  en 
tirely  unequal  to  the  task  of  holding  up  his  end  of  the 
discussion.  So,  after  a  few  moments'  silence,  during 
which  she  watched  him  with  eager  expectancy,  he  turned 
his  face  toward  her,  and  grinned  broadly. 

"  I'm  mighty  glad  you  are  a  girl,"  he  said,  irrele 
vantly  ;  "  and  I'm  mighty  glad  you  can't  go  into  busi 
ness." 

Alice  was  disappointed  on  his  account,  but  she  chose 
to  reply  only  tp  his  reference  to  her. 

"  Of  course,"  she  pouted.  "  You  men  are  all  alike. 
You're  selfish  and  unsympathetic.  You  want  all  the 
interesting  things  for  yourselves,  and — some  of  you — 
don't  even  know  why  you  want  them." 

"  I  really  believe  you're  getting  personal."  Allen 
laughed.  "  Don't  knock ;  come  right  in.  Now,  to  heap 
coals  of  fire  upon  your  head,  I'll  tell  you  what  I'll  do, 
Alice ;  I'll  divide  chances  with  you,  beginning  with  the 
first." 

"  Do  you  mean  to  say  you  haven't  had  even  a  first 
chance  yet?" 

He  nodded  cheerfully.  "  Not  a  single  first,  to  say 
nothing  of  doubtful  seconds." 

"  Then  it's  because  you  haven't  tried,"  she  asserted. 
[34] 


THE     LEVER 


"  Of  course ;  but  that  doesn't  mean  that  some  one 
else  hasn't  tried.  I've  been  the  dutiful  son,  waiting  for 
'  papa  '  to  show  him  that  the  paternal  way  is  the  only 
way ;  but  even  the  pater  hasn't  proved  a  blooming  suc 
cess  in  that  line.  The  real  trouble  is  that  the  old  man  is 
too  conscientious.  Just  as  the  President  gets  all  worked 
up  and  just  crazy  to  send  me  as  minister  plenipotentiary 
to  the  Republic  of  Zuzu,  the  pater  coughs  guiltily, 
and  murmurs,  '  Oh,  yes ;  he's  a  good  boy,  if  he  is  my 
son,  but  he  hasn't  been  brought  up  in  my  school,'  and 
shows  by  every  movement  that  he  knows  he's  passing 
off  a  gold  brick.  Then,  of  course,  the  whole  game  is 
up." 

"  Why  doesn't  he  take  you  into  his  own  business  ?" 
Mrs.  Gorham  asked. 

"Jealousy  or  judgment;  can't  say  which." 

"  Do  be  serious,  Allen,"  Alice  insisted.  "  I  don't  be 
lieve  you  have  any  strong  feelings  about  it  anyway. 
No  wonder  your  father  gets  out  of  patience  with  you 
if  you  talk  to  him  about  it  as  you  do  to  us." 

"  Oh,  he  gets  out  of  patience,  all  right,"  Allen  ad 
mitted,  "  but  it's  simply  because  he  can't  refute  my  argu 
ments.  He  talks  about  what  he  was  doing  at  my  age, 
but  I  tell  him  my  record  is  a  whole  lot  better  than  his. 
He  couldn't  afford  to  go  to  college,  while  I  could,  and 
at  the  same  proud  point  in  our  careers  I  was  success 
fully  touching  him  for  five  hundred  a  month,  while  he 
was  with  great  difficulty  earning  a  hundred  and  fifty, 
on  which  he  supported  a  family.  But  the  pater — well, 
the  pater  has  a  way  of  looking  at  things  which  is  all  his 
own." 

"  There  is  absolutely  no  use  expecting  to  talk  busi 
ness  with  you,"  the  girl  declared.  "  Father  won't  dis- 

[35] 


cuss  it  with  me,  and  you  won't  be  serious  at  all,  and  I 
know  Mr.  Covington  is  really  laughing  at  me  all  the 
time,  even  though  he  tries  to  make  me  think  that  he 
looks  upon  me  as  a  very  business-like  young  woman." 

"Who  is  Mr.  Covington?"  Allen  asked,  bluntly,  in 
wardly  resenting  the  fact  that  any  one  except  her 
father  was  as  intimate  with  Alice  as  the  words  indi 
cated. 

"  He's  father's  right-hand  man  in  the  Consolidated 
Companies.  If  you  could  once  sec  him  and  father  at 
work  and  hear  them  talk  you  would  understand  the 
fascination  of  it." 

"  Then  }'ou  like  business  conversation?"  The  boy 
found  it  difficult  to  comprehend. 

"  Better  than  anything  else  in  the  world." 

Allen  became  really  serious.  "  If  that's  the  case,"  he 
said,  emphatically,  "  I'm  going  to  become  a  man  of  af 
fairs,  just  to  give  you  that  pleasure." 

Alice  clapped  her  hands  with  delight.  "  What  are  you 
going  to  do?"  she  asked. 

He  turned  so  blank  a  face  to  the  expectant  one  he 
saw  before  him  that  the  seriousness  could  no  longer  be 
preserved.  The  vacuity  turned  into  a  smile,  and  the 
smile  into  a  broad  grin. 

"  I  guess  I  lose  if  I  have  to  answer  that  question 
now,"  he  admitted,  frankly ;  "  but  you  keep  your  eye 
on  Willie  and  the  push-ball,  and  watch  the  professor 
change  him  into  a  big  roaring  captain  of  industry. 
Then  you  shall  talk  business  with  him  as  much  as  you 
like,  and  he  won't  make  you  feel  that  he's  laughing  at 
you,  as  that  Mr. ,  what's  his  name,  does." 

"  Good  for  you,  Allen !"  the  girl  cried,  really  pleased 
by  the  clumsily  expressed  compliment, 

[36] 


THE      LEVER 


"  So  all  is  settled  now  except  the  pater,  and  I'm  al 
most  launched  on  my  career,"  Allen  replied.  "  Now 
suppose  we  take  up  your  case.  What  have  you  been 
doing  all  these  years?" 

"  Well,"  said  Alice,  smiling,  "  the  history  of  my  life 
is  yet  to  be  written,  but  the  main  facts  up  to  the  present 
are  that  I  have  safely  passed  through  school  and  most 
of  my  other  childhood  diseases ;  that  I  had  my  coming- 
out  ball  in  New  York  last  winter;  that  I  am  happy, 
and — most  important  of  all — that  I  have  Eleanor." 

She  took  Mrs.  Gorham's  hand  affectionately  in  hers 
as  she  spoke,  and  Allen  needed  nothing  more  to  demon 
strate  the  strength  of  the  bond  which  existed  between  the 
two.  It  was  not  the  affection  between  mother  and 
daughters,  or  between  sisters,  or  friends,  but  rather 
the  best  of  all  three  merged  and  purified  by  the 
yearning  each  had  felt  for  that  which  now  each  had 
found. 

The  conversation  during  the  ride  back  to  the  hotel 
was  in  lighter  vein,  in  which  Allen  showed  greater  pro 
ficiency.  Alice's  interest  in  him  was  mingled  with  a  dis 
appointment  that  the  years  had  not  made  him  older  and 
less  irresponsible.  She  felt  herself  distinctly  his  senior, 
yet  she  also  felt  a  confidence  in  his  unexpressed  ability. 
To  Mrs.  Gorham  the  passages-at-arms  between  the  two 
children,  as  she  would  have  called  them,  were  refresh 
ing.  She  knew  that  each  was  being  benefited  by  com 
ing  in  contact  with  a  different  nature.  Alice's  serious  side 
needed  the  leaven  of  a  lighter  viewpoint  on  life ;  Allen's 
buoyancy  was  already  being  tempered  by  her  ambition. 
This  was  why,  when  Alice  asked  her  later,  in  their 
apartment,  "  Don't  you  think  Allen  needs  a  little  of 
that  '  inspiration  '  you  spoke  of?"  she  had  kissed  the 

[37] 


THE     LEVER 


girl,  and  answered  without  hesitation,  "Yes,  dear;  and 
you  are  just  the  one  to  give  it  to  him." 

"  Then  this  is  my  chance  to  enter  business  by  proxy?" 
Alice  asked  again ;  and  Mrs.  Gorham,  smiling  quietly  to 
herself,  had  answered,  "  Perhaps." 


IV 


ATTER  his  interview  with  Senator  Kenmore,  Gor- 
ham  walked  rapidly  down  the  slight  incline  from 
the  Senators'  office  building  to  the  hotel,  where  the 
clerk  passed  out  to  him  a  handful  of  letters  and  tele 
grams.     In  the  lobby,  unseasonably  crowded  by  the  ex 
tra  session  of  Congress,  he  nodded  cordially  to  three  or 
four  men   who  obviously  courted  recognition,   and  as 
cended  in  the  elevator  to  his  apartment. 

"  You  don't  know  Gorham  ?"  queried  one  of  the  men, 
turning  to  his  friend — "  wonderful  man,  wonderful  or 
ganizer,  head  of  the  great  Consolidated  Companies. 
Thought  the  Consolidated  Companies  a  myth?  Well, 
well!  That's  a  great  compliment  to  the  man  and  his 
methods.  You'll  know  both  well  enough  before  long. 
But  that's  characteristic  of  Gorham — moves  along  so 
quietly  that  you  think  he's  doing  nothing;  then  you 
wake  up  and  find  that  his  corporation  has  tucked  away 
a  big  government  contract  you  thought  you'd  tied  up 
yourself.  Better  keep  your  eye  on  Gorham  and  the 
Consolidated  Companies." 

"  There  you  are,  daddy !"  cried  a  welcoming  voice  as 
Gorham  threw  open  the  door,  the  words  being  quickly 
followed  by  a  rustle  of  skirts  and  an  enthusiastic  em 
brace.  "  I'm  so  glad  you're  back  early.  You  know 
Allen  is  coming  to  dinner,  and  couldn't  we  all  go  to 
the  theatre  afterward?" 

[  39  ] 


THE     LEVER 


Alice  released  her  father  partially,  but  still  held  one 
of  his  hands  in  each  of  her  own.  Hat,  letters,  and  tele 
grams  had  already  fallen  in  confusion  upon  the  floor, 
as  the  result  of  the  girl's  onslaught.  She  caught  the 
look,  half  amusement,  half  dismay,  upon  his  face. 

"  Never  mind,  daddy  dear,"  she  continued,  reassur 
ingly;  "I'll  pick  them  all  up  in  a  moment.  You  will 
go  with  us  to  the  theatre,  won't  you?" 

Gorham  looked  significantly  at  the  telegrams  and  the 
letters  on  the  floor. 

"  Let  me  sec,"  he  said,  doubtfully.  "  I  really  ought 
to  work  on  these  papers  after  dinner.  How  can  I  do 
that  and  go  with  you,  Puss?  There's  a  problem  for  you! 
—unless  I  could  use  Riley  for  a  secretary,"  he  continued, 
jocosely.  "  That's  the  only  capacity  he  hasn't  served 
in.  Where  is  he,  anyway?" 

"  Couldn't  I  help  you?"  she  asked,  quickly,  without 
answering  his  question.  "  You  don't  know  how  much 
I'd  like  to.  And  I'm  sure  I  could,"  she  added,  with 
confidence. 

"  Tut,  tut !"  Gorham  stroked  the  soft  fair  hair  affec 
tionately,  but  discreetly.  "  Little  girls  shouldn't  con 
cern  themselves  with  such  matters." 

The  girl  released  him,  and,  dropping  on  her  knees, 
gathered  up  the  fallen  missives.  Instead  of  handing 
them  to  her  father,  she  sat  back  and  looked  up  seriously 
into  his  face. 

"  Girls  are  no  good,  anyhow,"  she  rebelled.  "  If  you 
would  only  give  me  the  chance,  I  know  I  could  help  you 
in  lots  of  ways,  and  then  I'd  feel  that  I  was  worth  some 
thing.  I  just  can't  stand  it  to  sit  around  all  the  time 
and  have  things  done  for  me.  Oh,  why  wasn't  I  a 
boy !" 

[40] 


THE "LEVER 


"  Come,  come."  Gorham  raised  her  gently  to  her  feet, 
noting  the  tears  in  her  eyes,  and  drew  her  to  him.  "  I 
didn't  mean  to  hurt  your  feelings,  dear;  but  business 
and  battle  are  meant  for  men.  The  Amazons  in  ancient 
history  didn't  change  the  order  of  things,  did  they? 
You  should  be  proud  to  be  just  what  you  are.  Now 
give  me  my  letters.  There's  some  one  else  I  want  to 
see,  you  know." 

"  She's  waiting  for  you,"  Alice  replied,  simply,  look 
ing  into  his  face  with  comprehension.  "  She's  the  sweet 
est  thing,  daddy,"  the  girl  continued.  "  One  moment 
she  is  so  wise  that  she  seems  old  enough  to  be  my  truly 
mother;  and  then  again  so  young  and  sympathetic  as  to 
be  just  an  older  sister.  I  can't  tell  you  how  much  she 
does  for  me  every  day,  or  how  completely  she  under 
stands  me." 

"  You  and  I  are  mighty  lucky  to  have  Eleanor,  Alice," 
Gorham  replied,  feelingly.  "  We  should  both  be  very 
grateful  to  her,  dear." 

"  I  am  grateful,  daddy ;  and  I  love  her  better  every 
day.  There's  Riley;  he'll  help  you  get  ready  for  the 
theatre." 

Gorham  made  no  answer,  but  patted  his  daughter's 
cheek  affectionately  as  he  turned  from  her  to  the  genial 
face  of  his  valet  and  general  factotum.  The  old  man 
had  been  in  Gorham's  family  for  forty  years,  and  his 
loyalty  to  "  Misther  Robert  "  had  steadily  increased  dur 
ing  the  period  which  had  elapsed  since  "  Old  Gorham," 
as  his  original  master  had  been  known  in  Pittsburgh,  de 
livered  him  over  to  his  son  as  a  part  of  the  house  and 
household  effects  which  constituted  the  paternal  wedding 
present.  Now,  ten  years  Gorham's  senior,  he  still 
adopted  an  attitude  at  once  protective  and  admiring, 

[41] 


THE      LEVER 


enjoying  that  intimacy  which  is  the  reward  of  a  life 
long  service  of  loyalty. 

"  Miss  Alice  wishes  me  to  go  to  the  theatre  to-night, 
Riley,"  Gorham  remarked  as  the  man  relieved  him  of  his 
coat. 

"  Yis,  sor ;  'twill  do  ye  good,  Misther  Robert — ye  wid 
so  manny  grand  plans  in  ye'er  head.  'Twill  do  ye  good, 
sor." 

"  But  I  have  so  much  to  do,  Riley,"  Gorham  protested. 
"  The  more  items  I  cross  off  my  daily  memorandum,  the 
more  I  find  left  there  to  be  done." 

"  Yis,  sor ;  that's  right,  sor — I  know  it's  right ;  it's 
just  like  th'  Widow  Cruse's  oil  jug  in  th'  Bible,  sor. 
But  th'  widow  come  out  all  right,  Misther  Robert,  and 
ye'll  do  th'  same.  I'll  have  ye'er  things  ready  f'r  ye 
in  a  minnit,  sor." 

If  Riley  was  in  the  conspiracy  for  the  theatre-party, 
Gorham  realized  that  opposition  would  be  futile,  so  he 
turned  into  his  wife's  room. 

"  I  thought  I  heard  voices  in  the  hall,"  Mrs.  Gorham 
greeted  her  husband,  affectionately.  "  You  have  re 
turned  early,  which  will  give  us  a  little  visit  together 
before  dinner-time.  Has  the  day  been  satisfactory  ?" 

Gorham  did  not  reply  at  once.  He  held  her  face 
between  his  hands,  looking  down  into  the  depth  of  her 
eyes  with  a  strength  of  feeling  which  she  could  but 
sense.  There  was  an  expression  of  expectancy,  an  un 
spoken  desire  that  she  should  recognize  something  which 
as  yet  she  had  failed  to  see.  There  was  a  tenseness 
which  would  have  frightened  her  except  for  the  tender 
ness  which  accompanied  it. 

"  Why  do  you  look  at  me  like  that,  Robert?" 

"  Because  I  love  you,  Eleanor,"  he  replied  at  length. 
[  -12  ] 


THE     LEVER 


"  Isn't  that  an  admission  for  a  man  of  my  age  to  make? 
I  know  it  always,  but  there  are  times  when  I  must  tell 
you  so.  Don't  call  it  weakness,  dear,  or  sentimentality. 
There  is  a  relief  which  I  could  never  explain  in  turning 
from  these  battles  with  men  and  with  events  to  your 
companionship,  which  demanded  nothing  from  me  except 
myself." 

"  Nothing  except  yourself?"  Mrs.  Gorham  smiled, 
reassured.  "What  more  could  one  ask  or  give?  Now 
that  you  have  confessed,  I  must  do  likewise:  I  simply 
count  the  moments  every  day  until  you  come,  but  I 
never  should  have  dared  to  tell  you  for  fear  you  would 
laugh  at  me.  What  would  this  callous  world  say  if  it 
discovered  that  the  great  Robert  Gorham  and  his  in 
significant  wife  were  really  in  love  with  each  other !  But 
I  am  so  thankful  for  it,  dear.  What  do  the  years  mean 
unless  they  add  to  one's  power  to  love?" 

"  The  thankfulness  is  mine,  Eleanor,"  Gorham  re 
plied  ;  "  but  I  sha'n't  let  you  speak  of  '  the  years '  at 
twenty-six.  Wait  until  you  add  twenty-five  more  to  them 
and  reach  my  dignified  estate." 

"  It  is  experience  which  adds  the  years,  my  Robert ; 
and  this  almost  gives  me  the  right  to  priority." 

"  I  know,  I  know,"  her  husband  replied,  drawing  her 
gently  to  him.  "  Do  you  never  forget  it?" 

"  You  and  the  dear  girls  have  softened  the  past  into 
a  memory  which  I  can  at  least  endure,"  she  continued, 
"  and  you  fill  the  present  with  so  much  happiness  that 
I  rarely  have  time  to  look  backward." 

"  Alice  spoke  just  now  of  how  much  you  had  been  to 
her,  and  it  started  something  moving  in  my  own  heart. 
That  is  probably  what  led  me  to  speak  as  I  did." 

"  Alice  is  a  darling,"  Mrs.  Gorham  replied,  happy 
[43] 


THE      LEVER 


beyond  words  at  the  double  tribute  received  from  father 
and  daughter.  "  Just  now  she  is  passing  through  what 
seems  to  her  to  be  a  crisis,  and  she  needs  assistance  from 
us  both." 

Gorham  looked  at  her  in  surprise.  "A  crisis?"  he 
asked. 

"Yes,  Robert;  and  the  responsibility  is  yours:  you 
have  passed  on  to  her,  as  directly  as  heredity  can  do  it, 
that  love  of  business  which  has  made  you  what  you  are. 
You  have  been  denied  a  son,  but  whether  you  wish  it  or 
not  your  daughter  naturally  possesses  those  very  busi 
ness  instincts  which  you  would  have  been  proud  to 
recognize  in  your  son." 

"  You  amaze  me,"  Gorham  replied.  "  Alice  is  forever 
trying  to  persuade  me  to  let  her  help  me  and  all  that, 
but  I  have  attributed  it  simply  to  an  affectionate  desire 
on  her  part  to  be  of  service  to  me." 

"  It  is  more  than  that — there  is  the  reflection  of  your 
self  in  the  girl's  soul  which  demands  expression." 

"  But  it  would  be  absurd  for  her  to  do  anything  of 
that  kind." 

"  Why  so?  I  don't  mean  for  her  to  go  into  a  business 
office,  of  course.  But  could  you  not  gratify  her  by  ex 
plaining  certain  problems  which  she  could  grasp,  and 
then  give  her  an  opportunity  to  work  them  out  herself 
in  some  minor  personal  matter  of  which  you  have  so 
many  ?" 

"  It  seems  ridiculous  to  me,"  Gorham  said,  after  a 
moment's  silence,  "  but  I  will  think  it  over  carefully.  I 
am  disappointed,  I  admit,  that  neither  one  of  my  chil 
dren,  especially  Alice,  should  have  been  a  son  to  per 
petuate  my  name  and  to  continue  my  work ;  but  that  was 
not  to  be,  and  my  daughters  are  all  that  I  could  ask." 

[44] 


THE      LEVER 


"  They  are  indeed,"  she  assented,  feelingly.  "  I  be 
lieve  Alice  realizes  your  disappointment  and  actually 
reproaches  herself,  poor  child,  for  not  being  what  you 
wished." 

"  Oh,  no !"  he  protested.  "  I  must  set  her  right  on 
that  at  once.  I  admit  my  disappointment,  but  that  does 
not  lessen  my  appreciation  of  my  blessings.  You  and 
the  girls  are  everything  to  me — and  you  have  given  me 
more  than  a  son  in  your  wonderful  conception — the 
Consolidated  Companies  is  your  child,  Eleanor,  for  with 
out  your  suggestion  of  an  organization  founded  upon 
an  altruistic  basis  I  should  never  have  thought  of  creat 
ing  this  corporation  which  is  now  certain  to  be  the  great 
est  power  the  world  has  seen." 

"  You  give  me  too  much  credit,  Robert.  That  was 
simply  a  chance  suggestion;  it  was  your  master  mind 
which  gave  it  life." 

"  It  is  yours,  none  the  less,"  Gorham  insisted ;  "  and 
this  great  corporation  may  be  the  means  of  giving  me 
my  son  and  successor,  after  all." 

It  was  Eleanor's  turn  to  show  surprise,  but  he  did 
not  wait  for  the  question  which  was  on  her  lips. 

"  It  is  my  hope  that  Alice  may  marry  Covington," 
he  continued,  "  and  I  see  no  reason  why  this  should  not 
be.  She  is,  of  course,  a  free  agent,  but  I  think  Coving- 
ton  will  have  little  difficulty  in  winning  her.  He  has  an 
attractive  personality,  and  I  know  that  she  already  ad 
mires  and  respects  him.  He  is  a  man  of  rare  ability  and 
is  my  natural  successor." 

"  There  seems  to  be  no  logical  obstacle,"  Eleanor  ad 
mitted  ;  "  but  her  heart  is  yet  to  be  awakened." 

"  As  far  as  that  is  concerned,"  Gorham  said,  decisive 
ly,  "  Alice  will  not  altogether  disregard  my  wishes  in 

[45] 


THE      LEVER 


the  matter;  and  the  awakening  will  be  all  the  healthier 
if  the  child  is  guided." 

"  We  must  never  do  more  than  guide  her,"  Eleanor 
said,  apprehensively. 

"  I  don't  intend  to.  Now  tell  me  something  of  this 
youngster  who  seems  to  have  made  quite  an  impression 
on  my  entire  family." 

Mrs.  Gprham  smiled  as  her  mind  reverted  to  the  after 
noon.  "  We  had  a  charming  ride,"  she  said.  "  Allen 
has  an  over-developed  bump  of  humor  which  encourages 
him  to  be  irresponsible,  but  he  is  a  likable  boy  and  I 
enjoyed  him." 

"  Probably  all  he  needs  is  a  smaller  allowance  and  a 
greater  necessity." 

"  I  judge  he  isn't  likely  to  get  either  from  his  father. 
As  you  know,  Mr.  Sanford  insists  on  his  becoming  a 
diplomat,  while  he  prefers  to  go  into  business.  This  nat 
urally  interested  Alice,  and  they  had  a  most  amusing 
discussion  about  it.  He  really  doesn't  know  why  he 
prefers  business,  but  Alice  has  helped  him  to  crystal 
lize  his  ideas.  In  fact,  she  has  quite  fired  his  ambition. 
I  think  you  will  enjoy  your  conversation  with  him  at 
dinner  to-night,  Robert,  for  he  is  really  most  ingenuous, 
and  a  bit  of  advice  from  you  will  help  him  just  now, 
even  if  he  doesn't  measure  up  to  your  standard  of  busi 
ness  capacity." 

"  You  think  me  a  stern  master,  don't  you,  Eleanor?" 
Gorham  pressed  the  hand  he  held  in  his. 

"  It  would  be  unfair  to  judge  him  by  yourself.  Boys 
of  to-day  are  not  having  the  early  training  that  fell 
to  your  lot,  and  their  latent  ability  is  just  that  much 
slower  in  showing  itself.  You  see  so  much  of  the 
serious  side  of  life,  it  will  be  diverting  to  hear  the  frank 

[40] 


THE      LEVER 


expressions  of  one  of  the  younger  generation.      I  am 
curious  to  know  what  you  think  of  him." 

"  I  couldn't  take  him  into  the  Consolidated  Com 
panies,"  Gorham  said,  flatly. 

"  That  isn't  what  I  mean,"  his  wife  hastened  to  reply. 
"  You  don't  think  this  a  disregard  of  your  desire  not  to 
have  me  refer  to  business  ?" 

"  No,  dear ;  I  understand,  and  shall  be  glad  to  talk 
with  the  boy.  I  hope  you  also  understand  as  clearly 
why  I  have  had  to  take  this  seemingly  arbitrary  position. 
My  day  is  filled  with  problems  which  require  nerve  and 
confidence  in  my  own  judgment  in  order  to  carry  them 
through.  I  must  let  no  one  influence  this  judgment, 
and  even  a  suggested  preference  from  those  I  love  might 
do  it.  More  than  this,  my  brain  is  clearer  each  day 
when  I  can  claim  an  evening  with  you  and  Alice,  with 
no  intruding  thoughts  of  business  detail.  Now  I 
must  send  a  few  telegrams  to  clear  the  way  for  the 
theatre  this  evening.  You  really  wrant  me  to  go  with 
you?" 

"  Alice  has  set  her  heart  on  it,  and  as  for  me — well, 
you  know  how  little  any  evening  means  to  me  unless  we 
are  together." 

"  Then  I  will  send  Riley  to  see  about  the  seats." 

"  But  before  you  do  that,  I  have  a  complaint  to 
make." 

Gorham  smiled  at  the  expression  on  his  wife's  face, 
half  serious,  half  humorous. 

"Who  is  the  culprit?" 

"  Riley,"  she  replied. 

"  Rilcy?"  her  husband  repeated.  "Good  heavens, 
don't  tell  me  that  you  and  Riley  have  been  having 
trouble !" 

[471 


THE     LEVER 


"  Not  trouble,  exactly :  but  really,  Robert,  he  treats 
me  as  if  I  were  a  child." 

"  No !"  Gorham  assumed  an  incredulity  he  did  not 
feel.  "  Tell  me  all  about  it." 

"  It  is  too  absurd  to  speak  of,  but  I  was  really  an 
noyed  with  him  for  the  moment.  He  actually  wouldn't 
let  me  go  shopping  this  morning — he  said  I  was  too 
tired,  and  absolutely  refused  to  order  a  cab." 

Gorham  laughed.     "Well,  wasn't  he  right?" 

"  That  isn't  the  question.  Even  a  privileged  servant 
ought  not  to  presume  too  far." 

Gorham  did  not  speak  for  a  moment.  "  Do  you  know, 
Eleanor,"  he  said  at  length,  "  that  idea  regarding  Riley 
never  entered  my  head  before.  He  was  the  bloody 
tyrant  of  my  childhood,  and  I  would  have  incurred  even 
my  much-dreaded  father's  wrath  rather  than  risk  a  dis 
agreement  with  Riley.  Actually,  if  he  had  disapproved, 
I  question  wrhether  I  should  have  dared  to  marry  you ! 
Even  now  I  can  feel  my  old-time  trembling  coming  on 
at  the  thought  of  reproving  him  because  he  prevented 
you  from  overdoing.  He  would  consider  me  an  ingrate 
for  not  recognizing  that  it  was  done  in  my  best  inter 
ests,  and  I  should  positively  lose  caste." 

Mrs.  Gorham  laughed  in  spite  of  her  temporary 
chagrin  in  the  face  of  her  husband's  genuine  discomfiture, 
which  he  tried  to  conceal  by  the  lightness  of  his  words. 
She  wondered  at  the  extremes  he  manifested — quiet 
but  firm  and  immovable  as  the  rock  of  Gibraltar  in  his 
business  dealings,  unaggressive  and  yielding  in  all  which 
had  to  do  with  his  home  life.  She  hastened  to  withdraw 
her  complaint. 

"  Don't  worry  about  Riley,"  she  laughed.  "  Tin- 
next  time  I  want  to  do  something  of  which  he  doesn't 

[48] 


THE      LEVER 


approve,   I'll  have  it  done  before  he  knows   anything 
about  it." 

"  You  don't  think  I'm  supporting  Riley  against  you, 
do  you?" 

"  No,  indeed,"  Eleanor  replied,  smiling ;  "  I  under 
stand  your  feelings  about  him." 

Gorham  drew  a  sigh  of  relief.  "  I  always  want  you 
to  bring  everything  to  me,  Eleanor — everything,  no 
matter  how  slight,  which  worries  you.  You  will  always 
do  that,  won't  you?" 

"  Of  course  " ;  Mrs.  Gorham  looked  up  quickly. 

"  You  always  have,  haven't  you,  dear?" 

"  Why,  yes,  Robert ;  do  you  doubt  it?" 

"  Sometimes  I  have  a  feeling  that  there  might  have 
been  something  in  those  sad  years  of  yours  which  I  could 
make  lighter  if  you  shared  it  with  me." 

"  You  have  made  everything  lighter  and  brighter," 
she  replied,  gratefully,  yet  without  directly  answering 
his  question. 
4 


PATRICIA  would  also  have  made  complaints  of 
Riley  had  she  not  considered  herself  entirely 
competent  to  cope  with  the  situation.  The 
child's  disappointment  at  being  left  behind  had  made 
this  a  trying  dav  for  the  whole  family,  and  Eleanor's 
delay  in  joining  Alice  and  Allen  for  the  ride  had  been 
caused  by  her  efforts  to  straighten  matters  out  before 
leaving  Patricia  alone  for  the  afternoon  with  the  dec 
laration  of  open  warfare  still  in  force  between  her  and 
the  old  man.  Nine  times  out  of  ten,  Patricia  played  the 
tune  to  which  Riley  danced,  but  this  was  the  tenth, 
and  an  older  understanding  would  have  heeded  the  sig 
nals  of  the  approaching  storm. 

"  I  don't  say  she  has  more  iv  it  than  other  childern," 
Riley  explained  to  Mrs.  Gorham  ;  "  but  th'  divvlc  is  in  'em 
all.  Go  'long  wid  ye'er  ride,  Missus  Gorham,  an'  lave 
her  ter  me.  'Tis  th'  firm  hand  I'll  be  afther  showin' 
her,  but  th'  tinder  wan,  like  I  done  wid  her  fa-ather 
forty  year  ago.  Ye  lave  her  ter  me,  ma'm." 

So  the  motor-party  set  out  with  one  member  of  it 
uncertain  of  what  might  happen  during  her  absence ; 
but  there  was  no  uncertainty  in  Patricia's  mind.  She 
watched  the  departure  of  the  car  from  the  window,  and 
then  slammed  the  door,  knowing  well  that  the  noise 

[50] 


THE     LEVER 


would  arouse  all  sorts  of  apprehensions  in  Riley's  soul. 
A  vigorous  knock  soon  rewarded  her  efforts. 

"  Come  in,"  she  called,  innocently. 

Rilcy  stood  in  the  doorway,  with  a  hand  resting  on 
each  hip,  astonished  into  silence  by  the  peaceful  scene 
before  him.  Patricia  was  seated  in  the  middle  of  the 
bed,  completely  surrounded  with  pillows,  and  fanning 
herself  nonchalantly. 

"  Phwat  made  ye  slam  th'  dure?"  he  demanded. 

"  Did  it  slam?"  she  asked.  "  It  must  have  been  the 
draught.  There's  an  awful  draught  around  this  apart 
ment — haven't  you  noticed  it,  Rilcy  ?" 

"  I  haven't  noticed  nuthin'  excep'  that  ye  are  a  bad 
little  gurl." 

"  It's  the  4  divvle '  in  me— coining  out,  isn't  it,  Riley? 
That's  what  you  told  mamma  Eleanor,  and  you  ought 
to  know." 

"  Shure,  I  ought  ter  know,  an'  I  do  know." 

"  I  thought  you  did."  Patricia  smiled  sweetly.  "  But 
if  a  person  has  the  '  divvle '  in  him,  it  is  much  better  to 
let  it  get  out." 

"  'Twud  take  more  room  than  there  is  here  ter  let  it 
all  out  iv  ye,"  retorted  the  irate  Riley. 

"  You  are  no  gentleman,  Mr.  Riley,  to  speak  to  a 
lady  like  that,"  she  said,  severely.  "  You  may  go 
now." 

"  Will  ye  be  th'  good  gurl  if  I  lave  ye  by  yersel'?" 

"  How  do  I  know  if  it's  all  out  of  me?" 

"  Shure,  it  oughter  be,"  he  declared,  in  despair. 
"Willyethry?" 

"  Certainly,  I'll  try.1"  Patricia  was  demureness  it 
self.  "  If  anything  happens,  it  will  be  the  '  divvle's ' 
fault,  so  you  mustn't  hold  me  responsible." 

[51] 


THE      LEVER 


"  It's  ye'er  own  divvle,  ain't  it? — ye  can  make  it  do 
what  ye  want." 

"  /  don't  know,"  protested  Patricia.  "  I  didn't  even 
know  I  had  a  '  divvle.'  It  was  you  who  discovered  it ; 
and  people  who  discover  things  have  to  be  responsible 
for  them,  don't  they?" 

Riley  shook  his  head  in  desperation.  His  arguments 
were  exhausted,  and  all  that  was  left  to  him  was  re 
treat. 

"  I  wuddent  be  that  child's  gov'ness  Pr  all  th'  money 
in  th'  world,"  he  muttered,  as  he  shuffled  through  the 
hall.  "  An'  ter  think  the}^  lift  her  home  fr'm  ch'ice. 
'Twas  th'  lucky  day  f'r  Miss  Mary — but  I  wish  her 
here." 

Finding  the  coast  clear,  Patricia  moved  the  scene  of 
her  activity  to  the  reception-room.  Here  she  undertook 
to  put  into  execution  the  latest  idea  which  had  struck  her 
fancy,  which  was  nothing  less  than  a  mediaeval  tourna 
ment  on  as  elaborate  a  scale  as  the  properties  at  hand 
would  permit.  The  hotel  had  not  been  furnished  with 
an  eye  to  contests  of  chivalry,  but  chairs,  turned  wrong- 
side  up  and  covered  with  table-cloths,  made  richly 
caparisoned  steeds ;  and  Patricia's  imagination  easily 
supplied  the  riders. 

At  first  the  Knights  and  their  horses  were  ranged 
together  at  one  end  of  the  room. 

"  You  are  Front-de-Boeuf,"  the  child  announced,  lay 
ing  her  hand  upon  the  first  overturned  chair ;  "  and  you 
are  Bois-Guilbert,  and  you  Malvoisin.  We  ought  to 
have  some  others,  but  there  aren't  any  more  table- 
covers." 

Then  she  moved  Front-de-Boauf  into  the  centre  of 
the  arena. 

[52] 


THE     LEVER 


"  You  stay  there  'til  I  get  my  shield  and  lance,"  she 
said,  and  the  war-like  Knight  made  no  protest. 

Patricia  next  appeared  with  an  open  umbrella  dexter 
ously  held  in  front  of  her,  and  a  heavy  cane  belonging 
to  her  father  in  her  hand.  Front-de-Bceuf  may  have 
been  intimidated  by  the  militant  figure  which  approached 
him,  but  he  stood  his  ground  bravely. 

"  I'm  the  Disinherited  Knight,"  Patricia  announced 
to  the  assembled  multitude,  pausing  a  moment  to  re 
ceive  their  enthusiastic  plaudits. 

"  Largesse,  largesse,  gallant  Knights !"  she  cried, 
boldly.  "  That  means  that  I'm  bigger  than  any  one 
else,"  she  explained.  "  Love  of  the  Ladies — Glory  to 
the  Brave !" 

With  this  ample  notice  of  her  intentions,  the  Dis 
inherited  Knight  charged  Front-de-Boeuf  with  a  frenzy 
which  resulted  in  his  utter  disgrace.  The  trappings 
were  torn  from  his  steed  by  the  fury  of  the  onslaught, 
the  horse  itself  was  overthrown,  and  Patricia  surveyed 
the  carnage  with  the  utmost  satisfaction. 

"  We  shall  meet  again,  I  trust,  where  there  is  none 
to  separate  us,"  she  said,  solemnly. 

A  truce  was  declared  while  she  dragged  Bois-Guilbert 
into  the  lists. 

"  To  all  brave  English  hearts  and  to  the  confusion 
of  foreign  tyrants,"  was  the  war-cry,  and  in  a  moment 
more  Bois-Guilbert  had  shared  the  fate  of  his  prede 
cessor.  This  time,  however,  the  Disinherited  Knight 
did  not  escape  unscathed,  as  the  front  foot  of  the  ad 
versary's  steed  made  a  dismal  rent  in  her  umbrella 
shield. 

Malvoisin  alone  remained,  and  he  in  turn  took  his 
stand  against  the  redoubtable  champion.  But  Malvoisin, 

[53] 


THE      LEVER 


contrary  to  history  as  Patricia  knew  it,  proved  the  most 
stubborn  adversary  of  the  three.  The  heralds  had  not 
properly  cleared  away  the  debris  from  the  tilting-field, 
so  when  the  Disinherited  Knight  forced  Malvoisin  back, 
Bois  -  Guilbert  supported  him  from  behind.  Patricia 
had  found  the  other  two  so  yielding  that  she  was  un 
prepared  for  this  unexpected  defence,  and  the  result 
of  her  attack  was  the  complete  demolition  of  the  um 
brella  and  a  bad  fall  for  herself,  in  the  course  of  which 
her  lance  struck  the  glass  door  of  a  bookcase  standing 
near. 

The  noise  of  the  fall,  together  with  the  crash  of  glass, 
brought  Riley  rushing  to  the  room.  Patricia  recog 
nized  his  indignation  without  need  of  explanation.  For 
getful  of  her  bump,  she  again  seized  the  cane,  and  re 
peating  her  cry,  "  To  the  confusion  of  foreign  tyrants," 
she  charged  the  old  man  with  such  vigor  that  he  stepped 
aside  with  astonishing  agility,  allowing  her  to  pass  him 
into  the  hall.  This  was  all  that  the  now  thoroughly 
frightened  Patricia  desired  to  accomplish.  Dropping 
the  cane,  she  rushed  into  the  bedroom,  and  retreated 
underneath  the  bed,  whither  she  well  knew  Rilcy's  in 
firmities  would  not  permit  him  to  follow. 

"  Come  out  o'  there,"  the  old  man  commanded,  close 
behind  her. 

"  It's  lovely  under  here,"  the  child  answered ;  "  I'd 
rather  stay." 

"  Phwat  in  th'  name  o'  Hiven  have  ye  been  doin'?" 

"  Playing  tournament,  Riley,"  came  back  the  voice 
from  under  the  bed.  "  It's  a  splendid  game.  Do  you 
want  to  learn  it  some  time?" 

"  'Tis  mesel'  has  sumthin'  to  learn  ye,"  he  retorted. 
"  Come  out  o'  there,  I  sav." 

^ 


THE      LEVER 


"  I  couldn't  think  of  it.     I'm  tired." 

"  Well,  ye  oughter  be — smashin'  up  th'  furnichure, 
an'  makin'  a  noise  like  a  wake.  Wait  'til  I  gits  hold 
iv  ye." 

"  You  are  a  foreign  tyrant,  Riley — I  shall  never  yield 
to  you." 

"  Furrin  fiddlesticks — I'll  lave  th'  whole  mess  f'r 
ye'er  mother  ter  see  when  she  gits  home,  d'ye 
mind." 

"  All  right,  Riley ;  I'll  wait  for  her  here." 

Again  the  old  man  retreated,  his  indignation  in 
creasing  as  he  waited  for  the  return  of  the  motor-party. 
Mrs.  Gorham  was  given  no  opportunity  even  to  remove 
her  wraps  before  she  was  solemnly  led  to  the  scene  of 
the  disaster.  Allen  and  Alice  followed  close  behind, 
ignorant  of  the  nature  of  the  calamity,  but  feel 
ing  certain  by  Riley's  manner  that  it  was  a  serious 
one.  They  gazed  for  a  moment  at  the  wreck  before 
them. 

"  What  has  happened,  Riley  ?"  Eleanor  cried,  anx 
iously. 

"  It  looks  as  if  a  vacuum-cleaner  had  been  at  work," 
volunteered  Allen. 

The  old  man's  emotions  were  so  strong  that  he  could 
scarcely  speak. 

"  What  has  happened  ?"  again  demanded  Eleanor. 

"  Miss  Pat,"  was  all  that  Riley  could  articulate. 

"  But  where  is  she — has  she  been  hurt?" 

"  No,  ma'am ;  but  she  done  it.  She's  under  th'  bed 
in  ye'er  room." 

The  entire  party  rushed  to  the  bedroom,  not  know 
ing  what  they  might  find.  Mrs.  Gorham  knelt  on  the 
floor  and  raised  the  counterpane.  There  lay  the  Dis- 

[  55  ] 


THE      LEVER 


inherited  Knight,  fast  asleep,  exhausted  from  her  first 

jousting  victories. 

"  Pat!"  cried  Eleanor,  "  are  you  all  right?" 

"  Hello,  mamma  Eleanor,"  she  answered,  sweetly ;  "  is 

Riley  after  you,  too?" 


M 


VI 


R.  GORHAM  studied  Allen  carefully  during 
dinner.  What  Eleanor  had  told  him  of  the  boy 
interested  him,  and  his  intimate  knowledge  of 
Stephen  Sanford's  personality  made  him  a  more  sym 
pathetic  adviser  than  might  otherwise  have  been  the 
case.  Allen,  too,  was  distinctly  attracted  by  Gorham, 
though  his  eyes  rested  more  often  on  the  girl  facing  him 
across  the  small  table,  who  seemed  even  more  lovely  to 
him  now,  in  a  soft,  clinging  gown  of  exquisite  texture. 
His  memory  of  Gorham  had  been  indistinct,  but  he  had 
heard  so  much  of  him  through  his  father  and  others 
during  these  intervening  years  that  he  was  prepared 
to  see  a  man  who  would  intimidate  him  by  his  severity 
and  awe  him  by  the  manifestation  of  his  greatness. 
In  fact,  associating  business  success  with  his  father's 
manners  and  methods,  Allen  had  come  to  believe  that 
force  meant  noise  and  bluster,  and  that  firmness  stood 
for  an  intolerance  of  discussion.  But  here,  in  the  midst 
of  his  family,  Robert  Gorham  displayed  a  side  of  his 
nature  which  Stephen  Sanford  had  never  seen;  yet 
Allen  was  no  less  conscious  of  the  man's  power.  The 
boy  was  more  quick  to  sense  than  he  was  to  analyze, 
and  it  was  not  until  he  had  left  the  Gorhams,  some 
hours  later,  that  he  was  able  to  satisfy  his  silent  query 
as  to  what  was  reminiscent  in  the  strength  behind  Gor- 

[57] 


THE      LEVER 


ham's  genial  face  and  cordial  bearing.  The  thought  took 
him  back  to  his  college  days,  and  the  course  in  ancient 
history  which,  strange  to  say,  he  had  enjoyed  most  of 
all — to  the  old-time  Roman  emperors,  born  to  command, 
and  indifferent  to  the  criticism  or  the  commendation 
of  the  world  in  which  they  labored,  made  up  of  the  lesser 
men  they  dominated. 

The  conversation  at  the  dinner-table  soon  turned  to 
Allen's  experiences  in  Europe,  and  his  nai've  manner  of 
telling  about  them  afforded  no  little  amusement. 

"  I  like  everything  Jn  London  except  the  telephone," 
he  explained.  "  It's  easy  enough  to  blow  in  the  hot 
air,  but  it  takes  a  whole  lot  of  experience  on  the  flute 
to  make  the  proper  connections  with  your  fingers.  And 
to  get  a  number — well,  it's  a  joke,  that's  what  it  is." 

"  Is  it  really  worse  than  our  service?"  asked  Alice. 

"Worse?  Why,  ours  is  a  direct  line  without  a 
switchboard  compared  with  theirs.  I  gave  it  up  alto 
gether  after  my  experience  trying  to  get  Crecy  &  Brown 
— you  know  them,  Mr.  Gorham.  I  dropped  into  the 
office  of  one  of  the  pater's  correspondents  and  asked 
to  use  their  telephone.  One  of  the  clerks  offered  to 
help  me  out,  and  I  lot  him. 

" '  I  say,  miss,'  began  the  clerk,  '  put  me  through 
to  Crecy  &  Brown,  will  you?'  Then  a  few  moments 
went  by.  'Oh!  thank  you  very  much,'  was  his  reply, 
and  he  restored  the  receiver  noisily  to  its  position  on  the 
rack.  '  They  have  no  telephone,'  he  said. 

"  I  looked  at  him  a  moment,  then  I  said  as  calmly 
as  I  could, '  And  yet  they  say  the  English  are  slow.' 

"'Do  they?'  he  replied,  good-naturedly.  'I  don't 
think  I  quite  follow  you.' 

" '  Why,  they  have  taken  that  telephone  out  since 
[581. 


THE      LEVER 


four  o'clock  yesterday  afternoon.     In  America  it  would 
have  required  several  days.' 

"'Oh,  you're  joking,'  he  laughed;  'they  couldn't 
have  taken  it  out  since  then,  you  know.' 

"  '  But  they  have,'  I  said,  boldly,  making  a  noise 
like  the  pater.  '  I  called  them  up  myself  at  that  time 
yesterday.' 

"  Then  he  rang  the  central  office  again.  '  I  say, 
miss,  the  gentleman  is  really  positive  that  Crecy  & 
Brown  have  a  telephone,  you  know.' 

"  Some  more  minutes  passed  by,  and  again  the  clerk 
said,  '  Oh,  thank  you  very  kindly,'  and  he  put  the  re 
ceiver  back. 

"  '  They  have  no  telephone,'  he  said. 

"  *  There  you  are,'  I  cried,  '  it  has  been  taken  out 
since  four  o'clock  yesterday  afternoon.  It's  .simply 
wonderful !' 

"  '  You  Americans  are  such  bally  jokers,'  the  clerk 
said.  '  They  really  couldn't  have  done  that,  you  know.' 

"  '  But  they  have !    I  still  insist.' 

"  Then  the  Englishman  went  into  a  trance  for  a  mo 
ment.  '  I  believe  you  think  they  have  a  telephone,  after 
all,'  he  declared. 

"  '  I  really  do,'  I  admitted. 

"  '  Well,  we'll  soon  find  out,'  the  clerk  cried,  with 
an  awful  burst  of  speed,  striking  a  bell  upon  his  desk. 

"  '  George,'  he  said  to  the  boy,  '  run  around  to  Crecy 
&  Brown's,  will  you,  and  see  if  they  have  a  telephone.' 

"  I  sat  there  for  twenty  minutes,  discussing  the 
weather,  the  Derby  winner,  and  all  the  other  favorite 
English  subjects  before  the  boy  came  back. 

"  '  Yes,  sir,'  the  boy  reported,  '  Crecy  &  Brown  have 
a  telephone,  sir.  Their  number  is  485  Gerard,  sir.' 

[591 


"  The  clerk  got  me  the  number  this  time,  and  I  did 
fairly  well.  Then  I  sat  down. 

"  '  Did  you  want  to  call  another  number?'  he  asked 
me. 

"  '  No,  not  tAvo  in  the  same  day,'  I  said ;  '  but  over 
in    America    we    always    pass    out    something    to    the 
operator  when  she  gives  us  wrong  information  like  that 
—just  for  the  good  of  the  service.' 

"  '  I  suppose  I  ought  to  reprimand  her,'  the  clerk 
admitted — *  call  her  down,  as  you  would  say.' 

"  '  If  you  don't,  I  will,'  I  told  him. 

"  '  Oh,  I  had  much  better  do  it,'  he  replied,  hastily, 
taking  the  receiver  in  his  hand. 

"  '  I  say,  miss,'  he  chirped,  '  that  number  you  just 
gave  me,  485  Gerard,  is  Crecy  &  Brown,  you  know, 
the  one  you  said  had  no  telephone.  Rather  a  good 
joke  on  you,  isn't  it,  miss?'  Then  he  slammed  the  re 
ceiver  on  its  hook. 

"  «  There !'  he  said,  '  I  think  that  will  hold  her  for  a 
while,  as  you  say  in  your  country !' 

"  Wouldn't  you  think  that  would  have  just  mortified 
her  to  death?" 

Alice  laughed.  "  If  you  were  ambassador  to  Eng 
land,  Allen,  you  could  change  all  that.  Perhaps  that's 
the  niche  for  you,  after  all." 

"  What's  a  '  niche  '  ?"  demanded  Patricia,  taking  ad 
vantage  of  the  first  opportunity  to  join  in  the  con 
versation. 

"  What  do  you  think  it  is,  dear?"  Mrs.  Gorham 
asked,  smiling. 

"I  think  an  itch  is  an  awful  feeling;  why  do  you 
want  him  to  have  that?"  Patricia  replied,  sinking  into 
obscurity  at  the  laugh  which  her  definition  evoked. 

[GO] 


THE      LEVER 


Her  father,  who  had  been  an  interested  listener  thus 
far,  came  to  her  rescue,  and  took  advantage  of  Alice's 
remark  to  turn  the  conversation  in  the  direction  he  had 
previously  determined  upon. 

"  You  haven't  heard  from  your  father  recently,  I 
judge?"  he  said. 

"  I  have  an  idea  that  the  pater  has  overlooked  me," 
Allen  replied ;  "  he's  been  so  busy  with  other  things." 

"  Why  don't  you  fall  in  with  his  ambition  to  make 
a  diplomat  of  you?" 

"  Well — I  suppose  the  strongest  reasons  are  those 
which  I  can't  put  into  words,  Mr.  Gorham,  but  one  that 
seems  pretty  good  to  me  is  that  I  don't  think  I'm 
fitted  for  it." 

"Why  not?" 

"  I'm  too  optimistic,  I  think,  to  make  a  good  diplomat. 
If  a  man's  a  gentleman,  and  treats  me  square,  I'm  apt 
to  think  he's  all  right  —  and,  from  what  I  hear,  in 
diplomacy  the  one  who  fools  the  others  the  most  times 
is  the  best  fellow.  Isn't  that  right?" 

"  Some  people  would  tell  you  that  the  same  thing 
holds  true  in  business." 

"  I  know ;  but  in  business  there  seems  to  be  something 
more  tangible  to  work  on.  Of  course  I  don't  know  any 
thing  about  it,  but  I  think  I  could  make  a  better  show 
selling  bonds  or  cotton  than  ententes  cordiales" 

"  Have  you  made  any  effort  to  secure  a  position?" 

"  Not  yet,  Mr.  Gorham.  The  pater  would  be  more 
than  peeved  if  I  didn't  wait  for  him  and  his  diplomatic 
expectations.  But  if  he  doesn't  get  busy  pretty  soon, 
I  think  I'll  hike  it  over  to  New  York,  and  see  what's 
doing." 

Gorham  smiled  in  spite  of  the  boy's  earnestness. 
[61] 


THE      LEVER 


"  Surely  your  father  would  realize  how  much  in  earnest 
you  are  if  you  talked  to  him  as  you're  talking  to  me 
now." 

"  Father  always  looks  upon  me  as  a  joke,"  Allen 
continued.  "  He  made  his  own  way,  you  see,  and  then, 
because  he  was  rich,  he  didn't  want  me  to  endure  the 
hardships  which  really  made  him  what  he  is.  He  gave 
me  plenty  of  money  all  the  way  through  Harvard,  and 
ever  since,  in  fact ;  yet  he  is  always  wondering  why  I 
lack  '  initiative.'  He's  been  mighty  generous,  and  I 
appreciate  it  all,  but  don't  you  think  it's  one  thing  to 
build  your  own  character  and  economize  because  you 
have  to,  and  another  to  economize  when  you  know  you 
don't  have  to  ?  I  guess  that's  my  complaint." 

"  He  was  very  proud  of  what  you  did  at  college," 
Gorham  said.  "  I  never  used  to  meet  him  without  hear 
ing  about  some  of  your  athletic  triumphs." 

"  I  suspect  it  is  you  who  call  them  triumphs,"  Allen 
replied ;  "  that  doesn't  sound  like  the  pater  to  me.  Of 
course,  some  of  the  things  I  did  in  college  seemed  worth 
while  at  the  time;  I  tried  for  the  football  team,  and  I 
made  it — by  hard  work,  with  a  hundred  other  fellows 
doing  their  best  to  push  me  back  on  the  side  lines;  I 
tried  for  the  crew,  and  I  made  it;  I  rowed  two  years 
at  New  London,  and  there  was  some  work  about  that. 
I'm  afraid  I  made  athletics  my  vocation  and  studies  my 
avocation,  but  I  tried  to  do  what  I  undertook  as  well 
as  I  knew  how,  and  some  of  the  boys  still  think  I'm 
pretty  good  in  certain  lines." 

"  Life  is  scarcely  a  football-field,  my  boy,"  Gorham 
remarked,  sententiously.  "  The  world  of  business  ad 
mits  of  no  vacuum.  It  is  the  survival  of  the  fittest, 
and  work  is  the  great  secret  of  success." 

[02] 


THE      LEVER 


"  I  know  what  a  '  vacuum '  is,  anyway,"  Patricia 
was  recovering  from  her  temporary  chagrin. 

"  Now  is  your  chance  to  square  yourself,"  said  her 
father,  turning  to  her,  kindly. 

"  I  learned  that  at  school  last  winter,"  the  child  con 
tinued,  proudly :  "  a  '  vacuum '  is  the  place  where  the 
Pope  lives  when  it  is  vacant." 

"  There,  Allen,"  laughed  Gorham,  "  you  have  no  ex 
cuse  for  not  understanding  my  statement." 

"  Not  in  the  least.  Lady  Pat  has  explained  my 
whole  difficulty !  But,  after  all,  Mr.  Gorham,  don't  you 
think  there  are  some  things  about  business  and  football 
which  are  the  same?"  pleaded  Allen,  when  Patricia  was 
again  quieted,  his  attitude  with  Mr.  Gorham  being 
quite  different  from  the  one  he  had  affected  with  Alice. 
"  I've  often  tried  to  think  what  I'd  do  if  I  ever  got 
started,  and  I've  said  to  myself  that  when  I  came  up 
against  the  other  fellow  I'd  just  grit  my  teeth  and  say, 
'  That  confounded  Eli  sha'n't  get  through  ' ;  and  I'm 
pretty  certain  that  he'd  find  something  in  his  way  be 
fore  he  got  the  contract  I  was  after." 

Gorham  was  distinctly  interested  in  the  boy's  in 
tensity.  "  Suppose  I  write  a  line  to  your  father  and 
suggest  that  he  take  active  steps  to  get  you  started 
somewhere." 

"  Please  don't,"  Allen  said,  quickly.  "  I'll  write  him 
myself  at  once.  If  you  do  it,  he'll  think  I  haven't  got 
the  spunk.  Perhaps  I  can  put  it  strong  enough  so  he 
Avill  realize  that  I'm  tired  of  killing  time  running  about 
in  my  motor-car." 

"  I  thought  your  father  told  me  you  had  lost  your 
license,  for  speeding." 

The  boy  grinned  guiltily.  "  '  Allen  Sanford,  owner,' 
[63] 


THE      LEVER 


lost  his  license,  but  '  A.  Sanford,  chauffeur,'  is  still  al 
lowed  to  run  a  car."  Then  turning  to  Mrs.  Gorham: 
"  You  didn't  realize  you  were  riding  with  a  chauffeur 
to-day,  did  you?" 

"  You  had  two  licenses?" 

"  I  couldn't  possibly  get  along  without  them  here 
in  Washington.  I  guess  you  don't  know  how  wise  these 
police  guys  arc." 

Gorham  looked  at  the  boy  steadily  for  a  moment 
with  an  amused  expression  in  his  eye. 

"  I  have  half  a  mind  to  try  it,"  he  said,  aloud. 

"  Taking  out  two  licenses?"  Allen  asked,  innocently. 

"  No,"  Gorham  answered  ;  "  I  was  thinking  of  some 
thing  else.  Your  father  will  be  here  some  day  this  week, 
Allen,  and  you  will  have  a  chance  to  discuss  the  whole 
matter.  Perhaps  you  can  get  him  to  agree  to  some 
compromise.  Whatever  you  go  into,  remember  what 
one  of  our  great  captains  of  industry  once  said — and 
it's  as  applicable  to  diplomacy  as  it  is  to  business — 
'  The  man  who  starts  first  gets  the  oyster ;  the  second 
man  gets  the  shell.' ' 

"  I'll  settle  it  definitely  when  I  see  the  pater,"  Allen 
said,  with  determination,  "  and  if  I  live  through  the 
interview  I'll  go  for  that  oyster  with  a  flying  start.  Oh, 
I  expect  I'll  find  plenty  of  good  interference  against  me, 
but  I  can  stand  that.  What's  that  story  in  mythology 
about  the  hydra  or  something — every  time  they  cut  off 
its  head  two  more  grew?  That's  what  I'm  going  to 
be — a  hydra.  Every  time  I  get  turned  down  I'm 
going  to  bob  up  twice  again,  and,  the  first  thing  you 
know,  somebody  will  give  me  a  job  just  to  get  rid  of  me." 


VII 


A^TER  the  theatre  Mr.  Gorham  devoted  himself  to 
some  late  despatches  which  required  immediate  at 
tention,  so  Alice  and  Eleanor  found  themselves  in 
the  apartment  alone.  The  latter  wore  a  more*  serious 
expression  than  her  face  had  shown  earlier  in  the  evening, 
and  the  girl  was  quick  to  notice  it. 

"  You  are  not  feeling  well,"  she  said,  more  in  the  form 
of  a  statement  than  as  a  question,  looking  at  her  anx 
iously.  "  What  can  I  do  for  you?" 

Mrs.  Gorham  smiled  quietly  as  she  impulsively  drew 
Alice  to  her  and  kissed  her. 

"  There's  nothing  the  matter,  dear,"  she  answered, 
pleased  with  the  intuition  which  prompted  the  anxiety ; 
"  there  was  something  about  the  play  which  brought  back 
old  memories  and  they  hurt  me — that  is  all." 

"  Dear  heart,"  was  all  the  girl  replied,  yet  the  words 
brought  grateful  tears  to  Eleanor's  eyes. 

"  Are  you  tired?"  she  asked,  suddenly,  with  an  appeal 
which  caused  Alice  to  look  at  her  inquiringly,  but  she 
did  not  wait  for  the  unnecessary  negative.  "  Then  come 
into  my  room  and  let  us  have  a  little  talk  before  we  go 
to  bed." 

As  Eleanor  sat  down  Alice  threw  herself  on  the 
floor  at  her  feet,  and  resting  her  elbows  upon  the  con- 
5  [  (55  1 


venient  knees,  with  her  face  upon  her  hands,  she  looked 
up  expectantly. 

"  I  love  these  cozy  talks,"  she  said.  "  There  is  some 
thing  about  this  particular  hour  of  the  night  which  makes 
anything  which  happens  in  it  of  the  greatest  importance. 
How  beautiful  you  are!  I  love  just  to  look  at  you — no 
wonder  father  worships  you !" 

"  You  are  a  sweet  child,  Alice,"  Eleanor  said,  strok 
ing  the  soft  hair  affectionately,  while  unfastening  the 
loose  coils  until  they  fell  over  her  shoulders  in  masses  of 
rippling  gold.  "  You  have  no  idea  how  much  you  have 
done  to  make  my  life  as  happy  as  it  is  now.  What  has 
your  father  ever  told  you  about  me?" 

"  Nothing,  dear,  except  that  you  had  suffered  much 
before  he  met  you,  and  that  it  was  our  privilege  to  try  to 
make  you  forget  the  past." 

"Was  that  all?" 

"  All  about  you.  He  told  me  how  happy  you  had  made 
him,  so  of  course  I  loved  you  at  once." 

"  And  you  never  asked  any  questions?" 

Alice  looked  surprised.  "  Why,  no ;  if  father  had 
wished  to  tell  me  any  more  he  would  have  done  so  with 
out  my  asking." 

"  I  am  glad,"  Eleanor  said,  simply.  "  It  is  better  for 
me  to  tell  you  myself." 

Mrs.  Gorham  paused,  and  Alice  realized  that  this  was 
not  the  time  to  interrupt.  Eleanor  seemed  to  be  bracing 
herself  as  for  an  ordeal,  yet  when  she  spoke  the  words 
came  with  perfect  calmness. 

"  You  were  ten  years  old  when  your  mother  died,"  she 
said. 

The  girl's  face  saddened.  "  Yes,  just  Pat's  age  now; 
and  the  next  four  years  were  so  lonely  until  you  came. 

[66] 


THE      LEVER 


I  try  never  to  think  of  them.  Pat  was  too  young  to  give 
me  any  companionship,  so  I  was  virtually  alone  with  my 
governess.  Father  never  realized  my  unhappiness.  He 
was  so  busy  with  his  own  matters  that,  young  as  I 
was,  I  knew  that  he  must  not  have  mine  to  worry 
about." 

"  Those  were  the  years  in  which  I  suffered,  too," 
Eleanor  replied,  quietly.  "  Perhaps  that  is  what  drew  us 
so  closely  together  from  the  first.  Four  years  of  tor 
ture  !"  she  continued,  more  to  herself  than  to  the  girl 
before  her. 

"  Why  do  you  speak  of  them?"  Alice  begged.  "  Why 
not  forget  them,  as  I  have  tried  to  do  ?" 

"  I  do  try,  dear,  but  the  play  to-night  brought  every 
thing  back  to  me.  How  strange  that  we  should  happen 
on  that  particular  one  so  soon  after  your  father  and  I 
had  spoken  of  those  years !  The  *  Great  Divide  ' — God 
only  knows  the  human  agony  and  truth  those  words 
contain !" 

Eleanor  controlled  herself  before  she  continued. 

"  It  is  a  story  which  I  have  told  only  once  before,  and 
I  had  not  thought  to  take  any  one  except  your  father 
into  its  sad  confidences ;  but  you  should  know  it,  dear. 
My  father's  health  broke  down  after  mother  died,  and 
he  was  ordered  West  in  the  hope  of  prolonging  his  life. 
I  was  sixteen  then,  two  years  younger  than  you  are  now. 
We  went  to  Colorado,  on  a  ranch  which  father  had 
bought  upon  the  recommendation  of  a  friend.  How 
well  I  remember  the  first  impressions  I  received  of  that 
glorious  country :  the  exhilaration  of  that  wonderful  air, 
the  inspiration  of  those  towering  mountains,  the  novelty 
of  the  strange  new  conditions!  I  rejoiced  in  the  large 
ness  of  everything,  and  it  seemed  to  me,  those  first  few 

[67] 


THE     LEVER 


days,  as  though  life  amid  these  surroundings  could  but 
reflect  the  richness  with  which  nature  itself  overflowed." 

Alice's  eyes  were  fixed  upon  Eleanor's  face  with  in 
tense  interest.  The  girl  sensed  even  in  these  preliminary 
words  the  importance  of  what  was  to  follow,  and  was 
unwilling  to  lose  a  single  syllable.  Eleanor  caught  the 
interest  and  sympathy  of  the  girl's  face  as  she  paused 
for  a  moment,  and  it  gave  her  strength. 

"  Were  you  quite  alone  there?"  Alice  asked. 

"  Practically  alone — the  nearest  ranch  was  four  miles 
from  ours.  Naturally,  we  sawr  few  people,  the  most 
constant  visitor  at  this  time  being  a  young  man  who 
owned  the  ranch  next  to  ours,  who,  during  the  year,  had 
ridden  over  to  see  us  with  increasing  frequency.  His 
name  was  Ralph  Buckner,  and  he  seemed  to  us  to  be 
a  characteristic  product  of  the  West  —  witli  his  large 
frame,  bluff  manners,  and  frank,  open  countenance. 
We  all  liked  him,  and  the  fact  that  he  differed  so  much 
from  the  Eastern  men  I  had  known  perhaps  caused  me 
to  show  a  greater  interest  in  him  than  I  really  felt. 
At  all  events,  no  girl  was  ever  more  genuinely  surprised 
by  an  offer  of  marriage  than  I  was,  when  it  came  unex 
pectedly  one  day,  with  that  determination  back  of  it 
to  secure  what  he  desired  which  was  a  part  of  the  man 
himself.  I  did  manage  to  collect  my  senses  long  enough 
to  insist  that  I  have  time  to  think  the  matter  over — for 
I  had  no  idea  of  marking  him ;  but,  much  to  my  sur 
prise,  father  approved  the  idea  from  the  moment  I  told 
him  of  the  proposal.  Then  it  developed  that  Ralph  had 
already  approached  him  on  the  subject.  Father,  poor 
dear,  thought  only  of  my  future  and  what  he  believed 
would  be  my  happiness.  It  was  so  evident  that  I  held 
in  my  hands  the  solution  of  his  most  serious  problem 

[  68  ] 


THE     LEVER 


that  he  never  knew  the  misgivings  I  felt  from  the  first. 
He  could  live  on  at  the  ranch  for  the  present,  busying 
himself  with  the  work  which  kept  him  out-of-doors; 
then  later,  if  he  preferred,  he  could  come  and  live 
with  us." 

"  Couldn't  he  see  what  a  sacrifice  it  meant  to  you?" 
Alice  asked. 

"  No,  dear ;  you  must  remember  that,  in  his  way, 
Ralph  was  an  attractive  fellow.  He  had  been  successful 
with  his  ranch ;  he  was  agreeable  and  intelligent ;  his 
Western  boldness,  as  it  seemed  to  me,  was  at  times  tem 
pered  with  a  certain  gentleness  hardly  to  be  expected  in 
a  man  of  his  nature;  and,  all  in  all,  he  was  a  man  to 
whom  any  girl  could  at  least  give  respect,  and  affection 
might  come  later.  It  meant  settling  down  in  the  West 
for  the  rest  of  my  life,  but  this  was  inevitable,  anyway. 
I  must  forget  the  old  friends  and  the  old  associations, 
and  could  I  not  do  this  better  with  a  husband's  help  than 
alone?  I  asked  myself  a  thousand  questions  and  ended 
by  deciding  that  I  would  marry  him. 

"  It  was  a  short  courtship  —  delay  was  a  word  not 
found  in  Ralph  Buckner's  vocabulary.  We  were  mar 
ried  and  began  our  life  at  his  ranch,  which,  as  I  say, 
was  near  enough  to  my  father  so  that  we  could  be  in 
frequent  communication.  He  had  been  much  concerned 
about  me,  having  discovered  more  of  my  homesickness 
for  the  East  than  I  had  realized,  so  to  see  me  well  set 
tled  and  apparently  happy  relieved  him  of  a  heavy 
load." 

"  But  you  weren't  happy  even  at  first,"  Alice  in 
sisted.  "  How  could  you  be  ?" 

"  I  say  '  apparently  happy,'  dear,  for  that  was  all  it 

was.     Ralph  did  what  he  could  for  me  in  his  own  way, 

[09] 


THE      LEVER 


so  at  first  it  was  perhaps  my  fault  that  we  were  not 
more  congenial ;  but  his  ways  were  not  my  ways,  and  I 
kept  looking  for  what  was  not  there.  He  was  well-born, 
but  his  life  on  the  ranch  for  so  many  years  had  dulled 
his  appreciation  of  those  finer,  innate  qualities  which 
every  wife  craves  —  he  had  forgotten  how  to  be  the 
gentleman.  Don't  think  that  I  expected  the  impossible, 
or  anything  incongruous  to  the  life  we  were  leading ; 
but  there  are  little  attentions,  thoughtful  considerations 
and  other  things  in  a  husband's  relation  to  his  wife, 
trivial  perhaps  in  themselves,  which  the  wife  expects 
and  misses  if  she  docs  not  receive — the  more  so,  if  she 
has  deluded  herself  into  believing  that  the  instincts  for 
them  are  inborn,  and  only  require  her  suggestion  to  de 
velop  and  bring  them  to  fruition.  These  qualities  he 
had  seemed  to  show  before  we  were  married,  but  they 
proved  to  be  only  a  veneer  which  soon  wore  off." 

"  Why  do  you  bring  this  all  back  now?"  Alice  asked, 
sympathetically,  seeing  the  lines  deepen  in  Eleanor's 
face. 

"  I  must  tell  it  to  you,  dear — we  have  grown  so  close 
that  I  feel  this  is  all  that  remains  between  us.  When 
you  know  this,  we  shall  be  sisters  indeed." 

"  We  are  that  already  and  more,"  Alice  urged. 
"  Only  think  how  near  of  an  age  we  really  are." 

"  In  years,  yes ;  but  sometimes  I  feel  as  if  I  had  al 
ready  lived  centuries." 

"  Will  the  telling  of  this  take  a  few  of  those  centuries 
from  you?"  the  girl  inquired,  smiling. 

"  I  hope  so ;  and  that  is  one  reason  why  I  am  asking 
you  to  share  the  burden  with  me.  All  that  I  have  told 
you  so  far  has  been  unimportant  compared  with  what 
followed.  Had  it  simply  been  a  difference  in  tempera- 

[701 


THE     I,  EVER 


ment,  I  have  no  doubt  that  I  should  have  become  ac 
customed  to  the  absence  of  these  things  I  craved,  and 
have  adjusted  my  life  to  meet  the  new  conditions.  But 
other  and  more  serious  difficulties  soon  arose.  With 
Ralph  Buckner  possession  seemed  to  be  enough.  I  have 
seen  him  scheme  for  months  to  secure  some  high-bred 
horse  or  a  fancy  breed  of  cattle,  and  after  they  became 
his  property  hardly  care  whether  he  ever  saw  them 
again.  So  it  was  with  his  wife.  Within  six  months  he 
resumed  his  fortnightly  visits  to  Colorado  Springs  on 
alleged  business,  from  which  he  always  returned  worn 
out  and  ill-tempered.  Until  we  were  married,  I  had  no 
idea  that  his  life  on  the  ranch  and  his  life  in  Colorado 
Springs  were  so  distinctly  apart,  but  I  was  soon  to  learn 
it  with  bitter  clearness." 

As  the  story  progressed  Alice  could  feel  the  increas 
ing  tenseness.  Eleanor  had  herself  well  in  hand,  but 
the  occasional  break  in  her  voice  evidenced  the  strain. 

"  There  was  a  so-called  club  in  Colorado  Springs 
whose  members  included  the  wildest  young  men  of  the 
town  and  several  of  the  younger  ranchmen  who  were 
able  to  stand  the  pace.  In  this  Ralph  was  a  leading 
spirit,  drinking  and  gambling  with  that  abandon  which 
was  his  dominant  characteristic.  '  Buckner  is  a  poor 
gambler  but  a  good  loser,'  one  of  them  is  reported  to 
have  said,  but  that  only  meant  that  Ralph  succeeded  in 
concealing  his  real  feelings  until  he  reached  home ;  for 
it  was  his  wife  who  received  the  full  force  of  the  re 
action  as  his  brain  cleared  from  the  fumes  of  the  liquor 
and  he  came  to  a  realization  of  his  losses." 

She  paused  and  looked  at  her  companion,  and  en 
couraged  by  Alice's  rapt  attention  continued: 

"  Our  baby  was  born  a  year  after  we  were  married — " 
'[711 


THE      LEVER 


"  I  never  knew  of  that,"  the  girl  said,  quietly. 

"  Don't,"  was  the  reply ;  ""  I  can't  go  on  if  you 
weaken  me  by  your  sympathy." 

"  Forgive  me,  dear  Eleanor,"  Alice  murmured. 

"  By  that  time  every  remnant  of  a  tie  which  held 
us  together  had  disappeared.  The  child,  however,  was 
a  real  link,  and  for  a  little  while  gave  us  something  to 
think  of  besides  ourselves.  For  a  year,  perhaps,  Ralph 
went  less  frequently  to  Colorado  Springs,  and  I  came 
to  think  that  we  might  possibly  be  able  to  continue  our 
lives  together  for  the  child's  sake.  But  the  novelty  wore 
off  from  this  new  plaything,  as  it  had  from  the  others, 
though  it  lasted  longer  than  anything  else  ever  had, 
and  then  Ralph's  absences  from  the  ranch  became  more 
and  more  frequent  and  of  longer  duration.  I  cared  lit 
tle  for  this,  as  it  enabled  me  to  take  Carina  to  my 
father's  ranch,  where  I  forgot  for  the  time  being  the 
emptiness  of  the  home  to  which  we  must  sooner  or  later 
return." 

Alice  glanced  up  tenderly.  "  Poor  dear  Eleanor," 
she  said,  softly ;  but  Mrs.  Gorham  went  on  without 
heeding : 

"  One  day,  when  little  Carina  was  three  years  old,  we 
were  visiting  at  my  father's.  It  was  late  in  the  after 
noon,  and  we  were  playing  some  child's  game  together 
when  the  door  was  suddenly  thrown  open  and  Ralph 
glowered  in  at  us,  his  face  purple  with  drunken  anger. 
Even  the  four-mile  ride  had  failed  to  sober  him,  and  he 
leaned  against  the  framework  of  the  door  to  steady  him 
self.  The  child,  startled  by  the  sudden  interruption  and 
terrified  by  the  expression  on  her  father's  face,  ran  to 
me  for  protection,  burying  her  little  face  in  my  lap. 

"  «  That's  right,'  he  leered  at  her;  «  that's  what  they 


THE      LEVER 


teach  you  to  do  here — make  you  hate  your  father,  don't 
they?  I'll  give  you  a  chance  to  get  acquainted  with 
me.' 

"  Then  he  crossed  the  room  and  tore  the  child  from 
my  arms,  in  spite  of  her  shrieks  of  fear  and  our  joint 
efforts  to  stop  him.  Even  my  father,  who  did  all  he 
could,  was  helpless  against  the  man's  almost  superhu 
man  strength.  In  a  moment  he  had  mounted  his  horse 
with  Carina  in  front  of  him,  and  was  galloping  at  break 
neck  speed  down  the  long  trail  which  led  to  our  ranch. 
Father  rushed  to  the  barn,  but  I  was  there  before  him. 
Between  us  we  saddled  the  mare  I  had  ridden  so  many 
times  before  I  was  married,  and  I  urged  her  forward 
to  make  up  as  much  as  possible  for  the  lost  time.  But 
I  had  not  far  to  go — 

The  recital  proved  too  much  for  Eleanor,  in  spite 
of  her  efforts  to  control  herself.  Her  eyes  filled  with 
tears,  and  her  body  was  convulsed  with  emotion  as  she 
bent  her  head  until  it  rested  against  her  companion's 
face. 

"  Don't,  dear,"  urged  Alice ;  "  tell  me  the  rest  some 
other  time." 

"  No,  no !"  Mrs.  Gorham  cried ;  "  you  must  know  it 
all,  and  then  we  need  not  speak  of  it  again.  I  had  gone 
over  less  than  half  the  distance  when  I  came  upon  them 
both  lying  in  the  trail.  I  never  knew  how  it  happened. 
He  told  some  one  afterward  that  the  horse  stumbled-  It 
may  have  been  that ;  it  may  have  been  anything  with 
him  in  that  condition.  He  had  fallen  at  the  side  of  the 
trail  and  was  conscious  before  I  left  him,  but  Carina 
was — dead." 

"  Don't,  don't  go  on — I  can't  stand  it !"  cried  Alice. 

Eleanor  paused  as  if  in  response  to  Alice's  appeal, 
[73] 


THE      LEVER 


but  a  glance  at  her  face  showed  that  an  emotion  stronger 
than  even  the  words  had  expressed  was  holding  her  in 
its  grip. 

"  Father  was  dead,  too,  when  I  returned,"  she  said 
at  last,  her  eyes  still  gazing  into  space. 

"  The  excitement  killed  him  ?"  Alice  asked,  breathless 
ly,  still  further  shocked  by  the  double  tragedy. 

"  That  and  his  anxiety  over  my  unexplained  ab 
sence." 

"  Your  absence?"  queried  the  girl,  mystified  by 
Eleanor's  apparent  incohcrency.  "  Didn't  you  just  say 
that  he  was  dead  when  you  returned?" 

Mrs.  Gorham  started  violently.  "  What  am  I  say 
ing!"  she  cried,  involuntarily.  In  a  moment  she  was 
herself  again.  "  Yes,  dear,  of  course  I  returned ;  but 
not  as  soon  as  .he  expected,  and  the  shock  of  it  all  killed 
him.  You  understand,  don't  you?  I  was  very  ill,  and 
a  friend  helped  me  to  a  hospital  in  Denver." 

"  But  you  said  you  had  no  friends  except  the  man 
you  married,"  Alice  urged,  trying  to  follow  the  nar 
rative. 

"  Yes,  dear,  you  are  right,"  Eleanor  replied  some 
what  confused ;  "  but  one  always  finds  friends  when  in 
trouble,  you  know.  It  was  so  with  me,  and  after  I  re 
covered  my  strength  I  lived  on  there  in  Denver  with  the 
small  legacy  my  father  left  me,  supplemented  later  by  a 
little  more  from  the  sale  of  the  ranch.  A  year  after 
Carina's  death  I  applied  for  a  divorce,  on  the  ground 
of  desertion.  My  lawyer  found  Ralph  somewhere  to 
serve  the  summons  on  him,  and  reported  him  as  having 
already  become  a  professional  gambler  and  a  confirmed 
drunkard.  He  made  no  defence  at  the  trial,  and  I  have 
never  seen  him  since." 

[74] 


THE     LEVER 


"  But  it's  all  over  now,  Eleanor  dear,"  Alice  said, 
soothingly.  "  Daddy  and  I  will  try  to  make  up  to  you 
for  what  you  have  been  through.  You  must  let  us  do 
that." 

"  You  have  done  it  already,"  Eleanor  replied,  feel 
ingly,  her  temporary  obsession  having  passed.  "  You 
and  darling  little  Patricia  have  become  a  real  part  of 
my  life,  and  my  one  prayer  has  been  that  I  could  do 
as  much  for  you.  Your  father  restored  my  lost  faith 
in  men  almost  the  first  time  I  met  him  in  my  lawyer's 
office  in  Denver." 

"  Yes."  Alice  accepted  the  tribute  to  her  father  as 
a  matter  of  fact.  "  He  nearly  killed  himself  in  Pitts 
burgh  before  he  gave  up  his  business  there,  and  he  went 
out  West  two  or  three  times  to  get  back  his  health. 
And  the  last  time  he  brought  you  back,  too.  I  have 
always  loved  the  West  for  that." 

Mrs.  Gorham  smiled  as  she  continued :  "  I  learned 
of  his  work  from  others  and  from  himself,  and  rejoiced 
to  find  a  man  with  real  ideals,  in  business  and  in  his 
every-day  life,  actually  lived  up  to.  I  had  no  notion 
of  what  that  first  chance  meeting  would  lead  to,  of  the 
home  that  it  would  give  me  among  my  girlhood  friends, 
filled  with  the  love  and  sympathy  which  my  heart  had 
always  craved.  Now  you  know  the  whole  story,  Alice 
dear — now  you  know  why  the  tears  come  sometimes  to 
my  eyes  as  I  press  to  my  heart  that  quaint,  precious 
little  sister  of  yours,  so  near  the  age  Carina  would  have 
been,  who  softens  the  memory  of  the  sweet  dead  face 
by  giving  to  it  a  living  reality." 

"  I  understand,"  the  girl  cried,  throwing  her  arms 
about  Eleanor's  neck  and  embracing  her  warmly.  "  I 
can't  say  the  right  thing  now  I  am  so  unstrung,  but  I 

[75] 


THE      LEVER 


love  you   even   more   than   ever   because  you've  let   me 
share  it  with  you." 

So  they  separated  for  the  night — the  woman's  heart 
bleeding  from  the  reopening  of  the  former  wound,  yet 
happier  that  her  accepted  confidante  had  become  ac 
quainted  with  that  part  of  her  life  which  was  conse 
crated  to  a  memory ;  the  girl  made  older  by  the  sudden 
drawing  of  the  curtain  from  one  of  life's  daily  yet  un 
heralded  tragedies. 


VIII 


STEPHEN  SANFORD  arrived  in  Washington  two 
days  later.  Little  as  the  boy  realized  it,  his  father's 
pride  in  his  son  was  unbounded,  and  stood  out  in 
marked  contrast  to  the  sterner  elements  in  his  character 
which  had  combined  in  such  fashion  as  to  enable  him 
to  carve  out  a  success  among  and  in  competition  with 
the  sturdy,  persistent  business  luminaries  who  developed 
Pittsburgh  from  an  uncouth  bed  of  iron  and  coal  into  a 
great  manufacturing  centre.  His  friends  rallied  him 
on  his  many  indulgences  to  his  son,  all  of  which  he  ac 
cepted  in  good  part,  with  a  uniform  rejoinder  that, 
say  what  they  liked,  his  son  was  going  to  be  brought 
up  a  gentleman. 

Allen's  boyhood  was  guided  by  private  tutors,  and 
so  hemmed  in  with  conventions  which  even  to  his  youth 
ful  mind  were  obviously  veneers,  that  it  was  with  a  posi 
tive  relief  that  he  welcomed  the  change  from  the  re 
straint  of  home  to  the  freedom  of  college  life.  Yet 
the  boy  naturally  possessed  inherent  qualities  which, 
while  not  leading  him  to  drink  too  deeply  from  the 
fount  of  wisdom,  still  kept  him  within  lines  which  won 
for  him  the  affection  of  his  fellows  and  the  respect  of 
his  instructors,  even  though  his  standing  as  a  student 
was  far  below  what  the  professors  thought  it  might 
have  been. 

[77] 


THE      L  E  V  E  R 


During  all  this  period  his  father  followed  his  career 
with  that  same  care  and  insight  which  had  characterized 
his  own  business  success.  He  was  proud  of  the  position 
which  the  boy  took — proud  of  his  ability  to  mix  well 
with  his  fellows ;  proud  of  his  splendid  run  against  Yale 
at  New  Haven  which  placed  the  ball  within  striking- 
distance  of  the  blue  goal ;  proud  of  his  seat  in  the  vic 
torious  eight  at  New  London,  and  equally  certain  that 
the  other  seven  had  not  done  their  full  duty  when  the 
shell  was  nosed  out  by  Yale  at  the  finish  on  the  succeed 
ing  year.  If  the  boy  had  missed  getting  his  degree 
Stephen  Sanford  would  have  considered  his  son  a  fail 
ure,  but  with  the  prized  parchment  actually  secured — 
the  first  in  the  history  of  the  Sanford  family — he  cared 
little  how  narrow  the  margin. 

Yet  Allen  had  passed  through  all  these  years  without 
a  suspicion  of  his  father's  real  feelings  toward  him. 
He  was  rebuked  for  his  extravagances  each  time  he 
asked  for  money,  yet  a  substantial  check  always  ac 
companied  each  rebuke.  He  was  criticised  for  not 
making  a  better  record  in  his  studies,  and  his  success 
in  other  lines,  it  seemed  to  him,  was  always  accepted 
as  a  matter  of  course.  He  felt  convinced  that  his  father 
looked  upon  him  as  a  colossal  failure,  and  he  was  too 
good-natured  to  quarrel  with  this  estimate  of  his  abili 
ties;  yet  with  characteristic  optimism,  he  saw  no  reason 
to  let  this  fact  interfere  with  his  every-day  life  and 
the  pleasures  it  offered  him. 

So  Allen  went  to  Europe  soon  after  graduation  and 
acquired  further  experience  in  running  a  motor-car  in 
England  and  on  the  Continent,  together  with  an  in 
creased  familiarity  with  foreign  scenery  and  the  most 
expensive  hotels.  On  his  return,  he  announced  his  de- 

[78] 


THE      LEVER 


sire  to  begin  his  business  career,  more  because  that  was 
what  his  classmates  were  doing  than  because  he  was 
anxious  to  exchange  the  freedom  of  his  present  life  for 
the  confinement  of  an  office. 

"  You  leave  that  to  me,"  his  father  had  answered, 
brusquely.  "  What  you  don't  know  about  business 
won't  help  you  any  in  giving  advice.  You're  going 
into  the  diplomatic  service." 

Unfortunately  for  the  smooth  execution  of  Stephen 
Sanford's  idea,  the  whole  country  at  this  moment  hap 
pened  to  be  agitated  over  the  discovery  that  a  member 
of  the  diplomatic  corps  at  Washington  had  taken  ad 
vantage  of  his  official  position  to  secure  plans  and  in 
formation,  which  he  had  transmitted  to  a  power  un 
friendly  to  America,  but  allied  to  the  government  which 
he  represented.  The  diplomat  fled,  ignominiously  dis 
graced;  but  as  far  as  Allen  could  judge  from  the  com 
ment  he  heard,  his  greatest  sin  was  considered  to  be  the 
breaking  of  the  thirteenth  commandment,  "  Thou  shalt 
not  be  found  out." 

All  this  prejudiced  the  boy  unduly  against  diplomacy 
as  a  profession.  In  his  eyes  the  acts  of  this  man  were 
unsportsmanlike;  and  to  Allen  Sanford,  who  looked 
upon  a  "  good  sport  "  as  the  noblest  work  of  God,  this 
charge  was  the  most  serious  in  the  category  of  crime. 
But  his  expostulations  and  protests  to  his  father  were 
of  no  avail.  Stephen  Sanford  had  made  up  his  mind, 
and  that  was  the  end  of  it.  Until  he  met  Alice,  Allen 
had  been  more  upset  because  his  father  still  treated  him 
as  a  child  than  on  account  of  any  serious  opposition  to 
plans  which  he  himself  had  formed.  He  had  never  yet 
focussed  himself  upon  any  one  particular  determination 
with  sufficient  strength  to  make  his  father's  objections 

[79] 


THE      LEVER 


other  than  an  annoyance.  But  now,  assimilating  a  part 
of  the  girl's  enthusiasm,  and  strengthened  by  the  instant 
admiration  which  Mr.  Gorham  commanded,  he  was  de 
termined  to  make  a  stand  at  this  point,  taking  the  head 
of  the  great  Consolidated  Companies  as  his  model,  and 
with  lance  in  hand  to  charge  the  world  just  as  he  would 
have  "  bucked "  the  Yale  line.  Even  the  undcsired 
diplomatic  position  was  apparently  not  forthcoming; 
now  he  would  not  only  make  an  effort  on  his  own  ac 
count,  but  he  would  insist  upon  his  right  to  do  so.  He 
did  not  know  that  the  real  reason  he  had  heard  nothing 
from  his  father  during  these  weeks  was  because  the 
positions  which  had  been  offered  thus  far  appeared  to 
the  older  man  too  insignificant  for  his  son  to  be  able  to 
accept  with  dignity.  As  one  of  the  Pennsylvania  sen 
ators  remarked,  "  Stephen  Sanford  evidently  expects  his 
son  to  go  to  the  Court  of  St.  James." 

With  Allen  in  this  mood,  it  was  not  surprising  that 
the  meeting  between  father  and  son,  immediately  after 
Stephen  Sanford  arrived  in  Washington,  should  have 
ended  in  a  declaration  of  war.  During  the  interview 
Allen  gave  abundant  evidence  of  his  unfitness  for  any 
thing  which  required  diplomacy ;  and  his  father,  sur 
prised  to  find  in  the  boy  a  will  as  unyielding  as  his  own, 
and  angered  beyond  expression  by  Allen's  opposition, 
lost  all  control  over  himself  and  stamped  out  of  the 
house,  leaving  his  son  behind,  cast  out  forever  from  his 
affection,  protection,  and  support. 

"  Let  the  young  cub  starve  for  a  while  and  he'll 
realize  what  his  father  has  done  for  him,"  he  fumed. 
"  Let  him  shift  for  himself  and  we'll  see  how  soon  he'll 
come  home  to  roost." 

On  he  stamped  along  the  street,  his  cane  expressing 
[SO] 


THE     LEVER 


upon  the  pavement  the  anger  which  consumed  him,  but 
becoming  less  violent  as  he  approached  the  hotel  where 
he  had  his  appointment  with  Gorham.  He  must  calm 
himself,  he  urged,  inwardly.  He  had  acted  in  the  only 
way  he  could,  and  his  old  friend  must  not  think  he  had 
been  hasty  or  in  judicial  in  the  position  he  had  taken. 
He  must  be  deliberate  and  self-possessed,  as  Gorham 
himself  would  have  been  under  the  same  circumstances. 
Then  the  cane  came  down  again  on  the  hard  pavement 
with  a  resounding  blow.  "  Damn  Gorham !"  he  mut 
tered  ;  "  damn  all  these  smooth-mannered  men  who  never 
lose  their  tempers ;  damn  everybody !" 

"  Come  in,  Stephen,  come  in ;  I'm  glad  to  see  you," 
Gorham  greeted  him  as  he  puffed  into  the  apartment, 
almost  exhausted  by  the  double  strain  of  losing  his  self- 
control  and  his  strenuous  efforts  to  regain  it.  "  I  didn't 
realize  it  was  so  warm  outside.  This  is  the  most  summer- 
like  October  I  have  ever  seen.  Sit  down  and  I'll  have 
Riley  mix  you  up  something  cooling." 

"  No,"  commanded  Sanford,  "  not  a  drop ;  I'm  cool 
enough.  I've  been  hurrying,  that's  all.  Haven't  for 
gotten  how  fussy  you  are  about  keeping  appointments 
on  the  minute,  you  see." 

Gorham  laughed.  "  I  must  have  learned  the  trait 
from  you;  but  it  doesn't  apply  to  an  old  friend  like 
Stephen  Sanford,"  he  said.  "  Business  is  business,  of 
course;  but  you  wrote  me  that  you  wanted  my  advice. 
There  are  no  minute  appointments  in  friendship, 
Stephen.  My  time  is  yours." 

"  Thank  you."  Sanford  was  sparring  for  breath. 
"  I  haven't  pestered  you  much  with  my  personal  affairs, 
have  I?" 

"  You  couldn't  '  pester  '  me  with  them,  Stephen.  If 
6  [  81  ] 


THE      LEVER 


I  can  serve  you  I'll  be  as  glad  to  as  you  would  be  to 
reciprocate." 

"  Yes,  yes."  The  visitor  still  employed  monosyl 
lables  as  far  as  possible  as  his  vehicle  of  expression, 
but  he  was  mastering  his  emotion. 

"Have  you  seen  Allen?"  Gorham  asked,  naturally 
but  unfortunately. 

Sanford  sprang  out  of  his  chair  and  waved  his  arms 
wildly.  "  Why  do  you  try  to  stir  me  all  up  again  ?"  he 
cried.  "  Can't  you  let  me  get  my  breath?" 

Gorham  looked  at  him  amazed.  "  Has  anything  hap 
pened?"  he  asked. 

"  The  young  reprobate !  I'll  show  him.  I've  cut  him 
off  without  a  penny,  Robert;  do  you  understand — with 
out  a  penny !" 

"  You've  done  what?"  Gorham  demanded,  his  face 
sobering. 

"  I'll  show  him  that  he  can't  make  a  monkey  out  of 
his  father.  You've  seen  him,  Robert.  You  know  what 
an  obstinate,  headstrong  cub  he  is.  Wants  to  go  into 
business,  docs  he?  Thinks  he  knows  what's  good  for 
him  better  than  his  father  does,  does  he?  I'll  show  him. 
He  can  go  to  the  devil  now — that's  where  he  can  go." 

Gorham  knew  better  than  to  interrupt  Sanford  until 
his  tirade  was  spent.  He  watched  him  pacing  up  and 
down  the  room ;  he  noted  the  twitching  of  his  features, 
the  clenched  hands,  and  the  violent  color  in  his  face. 

"  You're  taking  chances  to  let  yourself  get  worked 
up  like  this,  Stephen,"  he  said,  quietly,  at  length.  "  You 
and  I  are  growing  older,  and  our  systems  won't  stand 
what  they  used  to." 

Sanford  stopped  abruptly.  "  That's  what  he's  count 
ing  on,  the  ingratc.  I've  spent  mv  whole  life  building 

[82] 


THE      LEVER 


up  those  furnaces  and  making  money  so  that  he  might 
be  a  gentleman.  Now  he  throws  it  all  over,  and  he 
thinks  I'll  shuffle  off  in  one  of  these  spells;  but  I'll  fix 
him.  Not  a  penny  of  my  money  shall  he  get — not  one 
penny." 

"  How  has  Allen  disgraced  himself  ?  Has  he  been 
stealing,  or  is  it  forgery  or  murder?" 

"  You — you,"  Sanford  sputtered,  "  you  dare  to  sug 
gest  that  my  boy  would  disgrace  himself!  You — 
you— 

"  Sit  down,  Stephen,  and  calm  yourself,"  Gorham 
laughed.  "  No  one  could  think  of  a  less  heinous  crime 
than  I  have  suggested,  judging  by  your  own  arraign 
ment  of  the  boy.  How  can  I  help  you  unless  you  tell 
me  what  has  happened?" 

"  I'm  an  old  fool  to  let  you  string  me  so,  but  I'm  all 
used  up." 

"  And  the  boy  has  been  a  young  fool  and  proved 
himself  a  chip  of  the  old  block  —  how  is  that  for  a 
guess  ?" 

"  So  you're  going  to  take  sides  with  him,  are  you?" 

"  How  can  I  tell  until  I  know  the  circumstances?" 

"  He  won't  do  what  his  father  tells  him,"  Sanford 
explained.  "  That's  the  situation  in  a  nutshell." 

"  Good !  Now  you  are  becoming  communicative.  So 
you've  cut  him  off  because  he  won't  do  what  you  tell 
him?" 

"  Yes — the  young  reprobate.  How  he  ever  broke  into 
my  family  is  more  than  I  can  understand." 

"  You're  sure  your  way  is  better  than  his,  are  you, 
Stephen?" 

"  Of  course  I  am.     Aren't  you  ?" 

"  I  don't  know  what  your  way  is  any  more  than  I 
~[83] 


THE     LEVER 


know  Allen's,  so  I  can  speak  without  prejudice.  I  just 
wanted  to  be  sure  that  you  had  given  both  sides  of  the 
question  sufficient  consideration  to  be  certain  of  your 
position.  It's  a  serious  thing  to  send  your  own  son 
adrift,  Stephen." 

"  He's  my  son,  isn't  he?" 

"  I  judge  that  he  has  proved  that." 

"  Would  you  let  a  son  of  yours  lead  you  around  by 
the  nose?" 

"  No ;  nor  would  I  condemn  a  high-strung  colt  to  the 
bone-yard  because  I  couldn't  put  a  bridle  on  him.  the 
first  time  I  tried." 

"H'm!"  Sanford  ejaculated.  "It's  the  women  who 
don't  have  children  who  always  attend  '  mothers'  meet 
ings.'  Of  course  you  know  just  how  to  handle  a  son." 

"  If  you  hadn't  thought  I  had  some  ideas,  I  don't 
suppose  I  should  have  had  the  pleasure  of  this  inter 
view." 

"  Then  you  think  he  ought  to  be  allowed  to  go  into 
business?" 

"  This  proposition  seems  now  to  have  become  of  sec 
ondary  importance.  The  main  issue  is  whether  or  not 
a  boy  twenty-three  years  old  is  to  be  allowed  to  express 
his  ideas  when  they  differ  from  his  father's.  Allen> 
apparently,  has  settled  the  matter  without  any  advice 
from  either  of  us." 

"  You  don't  know  what  that  boy  is  to  me."  San- 
ford's  voice  broke  a  little  in  spite  of  him. 

"  I  can  imagine,"  Gorham  replied,  feelingly.  "  I 
know  what  he  would  be  to  me  if  he  were  mine." 

"  He's  all  I  have  in  the  world,  Robert.  I've  had  to 
be  father  and  mother  to  him.  I've  given  him  the  best 
education  money  could  buy ,  I've  sent  him  to  Europe  to 

[84] 


THE     LEVER 


get  that  foreign  finish  every  one  talks  about;  and  now 
he  won't  do  what  my  heart  is  set  on." 

"  If  the  boy  wants  to  go  into  business,  why  don't 
you  make  a  place  for  him  in  your  own  concern?  That's 
where  he  ought  to  be — to  take  the  responsibilities  off' 
your  shoulders,  one  by  one,  and  to  continue  your  name." 

"  Put  Allen  in  my  furnaces  ?"  Sanf ord  demanded,  his 
choleric  attitude  beginning  to  return.  "  How  can  you 
make  a  gentleman  in  my  furnaces?  Do  you  suppose 
I'd  buy  a  twenty-thousand-dollar  painting  and  hang  it 
up  in  the  cellar?  No,  sir;  I  mean  to  make  something 
out  of  that  boy  better  than  his  father  is,  and  that  isn't 
the  place  to  do  it.  But  in  the  diplomatic  service  they're 
all  gentlemen — that's  why  I  want  to  put  him  there." 

"  And  if  you  can't  have  your  own  way  you  prefer 
to  lose  the  boy  altogether?" 

"  Oh,  he'll  come  back,  the  young  cub.  He'll  see  which 
side  his  bread  is  buttered  on.  It  '11  be  a  long  time  be 
fore  he  can  earn  the  five  hundred  a  month  I  give  him  for 
an  allowance,  and  he  knows  it.  He'll  be  back." 

"  I'm  not  so  sure,"  Gorham  said,  seriously. 

"  You  don't  think —  '  Sanf  ord  began,  showing  signs 
of  alarm. 

"  Would  you  in  his  place  ?" 

"  That's  nothing  to  do  with  it ;  he's  only  a  boy." 

"  Did  you — in  his  place  ?" 

Sanford  looked  up  quickly.  "  I  had  more  cause," 
he  replied.  "  My  father  was  unreasonable ;  his  isn't." 

"  Allen's  ideas  on  that  subject  may  differ  from  yours. 
Now,  if  you  want  my  advice,  here  it  is :  Go  back  to  that 
boy.  Tell  him  you're  ashamed  to  have  lost  your  temper, 
and  advise  him  to  guard  against  that  greatest  weakness 
which  his  father  possesses.  Tell  him  you  want  him  to 

[85] 


THE      LEVER 


go  into  the  diplomatic  service  for  a  time  to  gratify  your 
ambition  for  him,  but  that  if,  after  the  trial,  he  prefers 
business  you  will  stand  right  back  of  him  and  get  him 
started.  Tell  him,  as  you  have  just  told  me,  that  he 
is  all  you  have,  and  that  he  must  make  certain  sacrifices 
for  your  sake,  that  he  must  bear  with  your  weaknesses 
and  profit  by  your  points  of  strength.  But,  above  all, 
make  him  feel  that  you  believe  in  him,  that  you're  proud 
of  him,  and  that  you've  been  a  fool  to  make  such  a 
humiliating  exhibition  before  him  as  you  did  this  after 
noon." 

The  gathering  storm  in  Stephen  Sanford's  face  did 
not  deter  Gorham  from  finishing  his  remarks.  He  knew 
that  his  old  friend  had  seldom,  if  ever,  had  the  truth 
spoken  to  him  as  unreservedly  as  now;  but  he  had  been 
asked  for  his  advice,  and  he  proposed  to  give  it. 

"  You — you —  '  Sanford  choked  in  his  rage.  "  So 
that's  what  you  think  of  me,  is  it?  It's  worth  some 
thing  to  know  that.  Knuckle  down  to  that  young  cub 
and  have  him  putting  it  over  me  for  the  rest  of  my  life? 
What  do  you  take  me  for?  I'll  see  him  starve  first. 
Why  should  you  undertake  to  advise  me  about  my 
boy—" 

"  Chiefly  because  you  asked  it,  Stephen." 

"  Well,  I  don't  ask  for  it  any  more.  With  all  your 
experience  you're  not  competent— 

"  Should  I  have  shown  greater  competency  if  my 
advice  had  agreed  with  your  own  ideas?" 

"  Don't  try  to  juggle  with  words,  Robert.  It's  all 
off  between  the  boy  and  me,  understand.  I'll  paddle 
my  canoe  and  he  can  paddle  his.  When  he's  ready  to 
use  my  stroke  he  knows  where  my  landing  is.  And  now 
good-day  to  you.  '  Bear  with  my  weaknesses,  eh?' 

[86] 


THE     LEVER 


'  Humiliating  exhibition.'  Good  -  day,  I  say."  And 
without  giving  Gorham  the  opportunity  to  do  so  he 
flung  open  the  door  and  stamped  out  into  the  corridor 
to  the  elevator,  his  cane  keeping  time  with  the  tumult 
of  thoughts  which  surged  through  his  brain. 

Gorham  watched  the  unyielding  back  of  his  friend 
until  he  turned  the  corner,  then  he  closed  the  door. 

"  Poor  old  Stephen,"  he  sighed  to  himself.  "  If  I 
had  only  been  blessed  with  that  boy." 


IX 


A..LEN  had  ample  opportunity  to  act  the  part  of 
the  hydra.  When  his  father  left  him  after  their 
stormy  interview  the  boy  utterly  failed  to  realize 
the  seriousness  of  the  situation.  The  "  pater "  had 
been  angry  with  him  before, — if  the  truth  be  told,  he 
was  usually  angry  with  him, — so  the  fact  that  the  alter 
cation  this  time  had  been  more  severe  than  usual  was 
a  matter  simply  of  degree.  The  cutting  off  of  his  al 
lowance  was  a  tangible  evidence  that  his  father  was 
more  than  ordinarily  angry;  but,  on  the  other  hand, 
Allen  felt  himself  to  be  the  aggrieved  party,  and  in  a 
virtuous  burst  of  righteousness  he  declared  to  himself 
that  he  "  didn't  want  the  pater's  money,  anyway." 
He  considered  it  fortunate  that  it  was  still  early  in  the 
month,  and  it  did  not  occur  to  him  to  consider  the  rather 
handsome  balance  he  still  possessed  as  too  tainted  to 
retain;  but  as  he  looked  at  it  the  upshot  of  the  whole 
matter  was  that  now  he  would  be  forced  to  go  into 
business  at  once — and  this  was  his  strongest  desire  since 
he  had  met  Alice.  So  Allen  "  hiked  it  "  to  New  York, 
and  spent  a  fortnight  seeking  out  the  opening  which 
should  best  offer  him  the  opportunity  to  become  a  cap 
tain  of  industry  with  the  least  possible  delay. 

In  the  mean  time,  Covington  had  returned  to  Wash 
ington   to   assist    Gorham    in    putting   through   a    gov- 

[88] 


THE      LEVER 


eminent  contract  for  the  building  of  the  new  battle 
ships  just  authorized  by  Congress.  He  found  his  chief 
gratified  by  the  continued  advance  of  the  Companies' 
interests,  but  still  more  impressed  by  the  personal  re 
sponsibility  which  this  success  entailed. 

"  I  repeated  the  cable  from  Brazil  to  you  by  wire," 
Covington  remarked. 

"  Yes ;  the  Consolidated  Companies  now  controls  the 
coffee  output  of  the  world.  With  the  economies  which 
we  can  introduce  in  production  and  handling  there  will 
be  a  saving  of  about  twelve  millions  a  year." 

"  That  will  be  a  handsome  addition  to  the  dividends 
already  assured  the  stockholders,"  Covington  observed. 

"  Only  a  drop  in  the  bucket  compared  with  what  is 
to  come,"  Gorham  assured  him.  "  The  people  can  now 
save  six  millions  a  year  on  their  breakfast  cup  of  coffee, 
while  the  Consolidated  Companies  may  conscientiously 
drop  the  other  six  into  its  own  cup  by  way  of  sweet 
ening." 

"  You  don't  really  mean  that  you  arc  going  to  throw 
away  all  that  profit?"  was  the  incredulous  inquiry. 

"  I'm  not  going  to  '  throw  away  '  any  of  it." 

"  I  know,"  Covington  said,  quickly ;  "  but  six  millions 
is  a  large  sum  of  money,  and  one  million  given  to  the 
public  by  way  of  lower  prices,  if  properly  advertised, 
would  accomplish  the  purpose  just  as  well." 

Gorham  looked  at  him  critically.  "  You're  not  seri 
ous,  are  you?" 

"  As  serious  as  you  are."  Covington  smiled  under- 
standingly.  "  This  is  man  to  man  now,  you  know ;  that 
other  talk  is  a  great  card  for  the  Companies,  as  you 
give  it.  Of  course  it  isn't  necessary  to  give  away  so 
large  a  share  of  the  savings." 

[89] 


THE     LEVER 


"  Not  necessary,  but  just  and — good  business,"  re 
plied  Gorluuii.  "  This  is  where  you  and  I  and  the  others 
in  the  Companies  can  reap  our  richest  dividends:  we  can 
take  the  tremendous  profits  which  we  are  receiving  with 
the  gratifying  knowledge  that  every  dollar  we  get  is 
clean,  and  represents  an  equal  sum  saved  to  the  people. 
No  one  of  us  has  made  an  unfair  penny  out  of  the  pro 
motion;  no  one  of  us  has  improperly  used  the  infor 
mation  which  has  come  to  him  while  negotiating  our 
consolidations ;  there  is  no  act  of  ours,  individually  or  of 
ficially,  which  will  not  stand  the  fullest  publicity.  What 
other  corporation  can  make  that  boast,  Covington?  The 
most  baneful  influence  which  corporate  power  conveys  is 
that  it  blinds  the  eyes  of  those  possessing  it  to  all  except 
their  own  single,  selfish  purpose ;  that  it  dulls  their 
hearts  so  that  every  beat  takes  them  farther  away 
from  humanity,  and  that  it  hardens  their  hands  un 
til  they  can  feel  nothing  but  the  gold  which  they  clasp 
to  their  breasts.  They  have  thrived  upon  special  privi 
lege  just  as  we  are  thriving,  but  see  the  difference.  In 
our  hands  this  wrcapon,  which  has  previously  been  turned 
against  the  masses,  is  being  made  an  advantage  to  them 
and  not  a  menace,  and  yet  a  profitable  enterprise  for 
those  who  wield  it.  I  tell  you,  Covington,  when  this 
double  purpose  can  no  longer  be  served,  the  Consolidated 
Companies  must  cease  to  exist." 

"  Splendid !"  exclaimed  his  listener,  with  undisguised 
admiration.  "  This  is  the  first  time  I  have  personally 
had  the  opportunity  of  listening  to  that  irresistible  ap 
peal  which  has  given  the  Companies  the  most  remarkable 
list  of  stockholders  in  the  world.  But  tell  me  —  how 
much  of  that  saving  are  you  really  going  to  give  back 
to  the  public?" 

[90] 


THE     LEVER 


"  Your  jest  is  ill  timed,"  Gorham  replied,  sternly. 
"  I  do  not  choose  to  have  even  you  make  light  of  so  seri 
ous  a  subject.  Let  us  have  no  more  of  it." 

Covington  retreated  behind  the  inexpressive  barrier 
of  his  superbly  controlled  features,  but  the  coldness  of 
his  eyes  showed  his  resentment. 

"  As  you  wish,  Mr.  Gorham,"  he  replied,  as  they 
separated,  and  he  directed  his  steps  toward  the  hotel. 

"  Does  he  think  me  a  fool?"  he  said,  petulantly,  to 
himself.  "  Why  should  he  always  hold  himself  above 
the  rest  of  us?  I'm  working  for  the  Companies  just 
as  he  is,  and  there  is  no  reason  why  he  should  try  that 
bluff  with  me.  '  When  this  double  purpose  can  no 
longer  be  served  the  Consolidated  Companies  must 
cease  to  exist.'  Bah!  I  can  see  the  shearing  ahead 
of  us  as  well  as  he  can,  and  he  won't  gain  anything 
by  trying  to  assume  the  role  of  the  Almighty,  leaving 
us  to  be  the  wicked  partners." 

He  showed  no  evidences  of  his  ruffled  feelings  when  he 
reached  the  hotel.  Alice  was  expecting  him,  but  she 
was  in  ignorance  as  to  the  nature  of  his  errand. 

"  We  are  to  have  our  first  lesson  this  morning,"  he 
announced. 

"  First  lesson  in  what?"  was  the  surprised  inquiry. 

"  In  business  and  finance,"  Covington  enlightened 
her,  smiling.  "  Your  father  has  given  me  the  privi 
lege  of  helping  you  manage  your  first  business  enter 
prise.  A  part  of  one  of  the  concerns  recently  assimi 
lated  by  the  Consolidated  Companies  is  a  prosperous 
mail-order  department  which  we  intend  to  continue, 
for  a  time  at  least.  Your  father's  instructions  are  that 
all  the  mail  shall  be  brought  to  you  each  morning  by  a 
stenographer,  who  will  receive  your  dictation  and  bring 

[  91  ] 


THE      LEVER 


the  letters  back  to  you  in  the  afternoon  for  your  ap 
proval  and  signature.  For  a  time  I  will  give  you  such 
advice  as  you  need,  and  later  you  will  have  matters 
entirely  in  your  own  hands  as  long  as  you  wish  to  re 
main  manager  of  the  department.  How  do  you  like  the 
idea?" 

"  It  is  perfectly  splendid,"  Alice  cried,  her  eyes 
sparkling.  "  When  am  I  to  begin  ?" 

"  I  will  explain  some  of  the  details  to  you  now," 
Covington  answered,  drawing  a  package  of  papers 
from  his  pocket.  "  You  must  make  yourself  perfectly 
familiar  with  these,  and  we  will  take  the  business  up 
seriously  when  you  return  to  New  York." 

"  Why  did  father  do  this  ?"  the  girl  demanded,  sud 
denly. 

Covington  was  surprised.  "  Isn't  it  something  you 
wanted?"  he  asked. 

"  More  than  anything  else  in  the  world,  but  father 
never  seemed  to  realize  it.  If  I  can  only  do  something 
to  help,  and  feel  myself  accomplishing  no  matter  how 
little,  I  shall  be  the  happiest  girl  in  the  world." 

"  Others  who  are  not  so  wholly  engrossed  have  seen 
what  you  wanted,  Miss  Alice.  Perhaps  you  have  them 
to  thank  in  part." 

"  I  do  thank  you.  Mr.  Covington,  and  it  is  good  of 
you  to  take  all  this  trouble  to  teach  me  how  to  do  it," 
she  said,  gratefully.  "  I  know  how  valuable  your 
time  is,  and  how  much  it  must  interfere  with  your  work 
to  gratify  this  desire  of  mine  which  probably  seems 
foolish  to  you  all." 

"  Such  an  experience  is  of  value  to  any  girl,  but  es 
pecially  to  you  who  are  in  the  dangerous  position  of 
being  threatened  with  large  interests  to  look  after;  and 

[92] 


THE     LEVER 


as  for  me,  I  shall  consider  this  as  one  of  the  pleasantest 
of  my  daily  duties." 

"  You  and  father  are  so  good  to  me."  Alice  held 
out  her  hand  impulsively,  after  grasping  which  Coving- 
ton  spread  out  the  papers  on  the  table  preparatory  to 
the  first  lesson.  The  girl  watched  him,  all  eagerness, 
then  suddenly  she  laughed  aloud  and  clapped  her  hands. 

"  Won't  Allen  be  surprised  when  he  hears  that  I've 
gotten  my  position  before  he  has  his?" 

"Allen?"  queried  Covington,  looking  up  from  his 
papers. 

"  Yes,  Allen  Sanford.  Do  you  know  him,  Mr.  Cov 
ington?  He's  a  friend  of  mine  and  I'm  very  much  in 
terested  in  him."  Then  she  paused  and  her  face  sobered. 
"  Perhaps  I  ought  to  let  him  have  this  chance,"  she 
mused.  "  He  offered  to  share  his  chances  with  me." 

"  Do  you  mean  Stephen  Sanford's  son?" 

"Yes.     Do  you  know  him?" 

Covington  smiled,  and  for  some  unexplainable  reason 
the  girl  did  not  like  his  smile. 

"  We  could  hardly  accept  the  substitution,  Miss 
Alice.  I  understand  that  the  boy  is  erratic  and  irre 
sponsible.  His  father  has  just  disinherited  him." 

"  You  don't  mean  it !"  Alice  cried,  really  concerned 
over  this  first  news  of  the  result  of  Allen's  interview  with 
his  father.  "  That  must  have  been  yesterday.  I  won 
der  why  daddy  didn't  tell  me." 

"  Your  father's  mind  is  pretty  full  with  his  own  af 
fairs,  Miss  Alice,  without  taking  up  Mr.  Sanford's." 

"  But  I  must  see  Allen  and  help  him — he  will  need 
my  inspiration  now  more  than  ever." 

"  Shall  we  begin  on  our  first  lesson?"  Covington 
asked,  watching  the  girl  carefully. 

[93] 


THE      LEVER 


"  Please  do,"  she  said.  "  I  wonder  if  woman's  part 
is  to  give  inspiration  even  after  she  is  the  manager 'of 
a  business,"  she  said  aloud,  but  to  herself  rather  than  to 
her  companion. 

"  It.  is  always  woman's  part  to  give  inspiration,"  as 
sented  Covington. 

"  I  must  ask  Eleanor,"  the  girl  said.  "  Please  show 
me  the  papers,  Mr.  Covington,"  she  continued,  turning 
to  him  with  her  mind  at  last  centred  on  the  new  proposi 
tion.  "  Your  pupil  is  all  attention." 

Alice  saw  Allen  just  before  he  left  for  New  York 
and  also  immediately  after  his  return,  and  the  two  inter 
views  were  interesting  in  their  diversity.  In  the  first, 
Allen  made  light  of  the  trouble  between  his  father  and 
himself,  and  was  so  filled  with  confidence  as  to  the  re 
sults  of  his  approaching  visit  to  the  metropolis  that  the 
girl's  anxiety  was  much  relieved. 

"The  pater  is  all  right,  Alice,"  he  said;  "he  just 
doesn't  understand  me,  that's  all.  He's  done  everything 
in  the  world  for  me  and  I'm  more  grateful  than  he 
realizes;  but  I  can't  let  him  keep  tying  on  my  bib,  can 
I?  Now  I've  got  to  show  him  that  I'm  a  man  too,  and 
then  he'll  come  around  all  right.  I'm  going  over  to 
New  York  to-night  and  I'll  tell  you  all  about  it  when 
I  come  back.  I'm  not  afraid  of  being  turned  down. 
You're  a  girl  and  you'd  be  mortified  to  death  if  any  one 
turned  you  down,  but  with  us  men  it's  different.  You 
remember  what  I  told  your  father  —  and  I  meant  it. 
Watch  me  do  the  hydra  act  until  I  get  located,  and 
then  —  well,  then  I'll  start  a  branch  mail  -  order  de 
partment  and  push  you  off  the  map,  Miss — Man 
ager." 

[04] 


THE      LEVER 


When  he  returned  Alice  welcomed  him  full  of  an 
ticipation. 

"  What  have  you  gone  into?"  she  demanded. 

The  boy's  eyes  fell  as  they  met  hers.  "  Well "  — he 
hesitated  —  "  I  haven't  gone  into  anything.  I  guess 
Mrs.  Gorham  is  right  about  New  York  being  a  hard 
place  to  get  started  in,  and  I  can't  exactly  claim  to 
be  a  'finished  product'  yet,  can  I?  You  see,  they  all 
knew  I  was  Stephen  Sanford's  son,  and  they  were  as 
nice  to  me  as  could  be.  They  asked  me  up  to  dinner, 
and  then  I  knew  it  was  all  off  for  getting  a  job.  The 
heads  of  big  concerns  don't  ask  their  office-boys  to  their 
homes  to  meet  their  families,  you  know.  But  I'm  not 
a  bit  discouraged.  I'm  going  to  find  something  if  I 
have  to  tear  a  hole  in  the  road  chasing  it." 

A  few  evenings  later  Allen  called  again  upon  the 
Gorhams.  It  would  have  been  apparent  even  to  those 
less  observant  than  Alice  and  Eleanor  that  something 
had  happened,  for  the  boy's  face  glowed  with  sup 
pressed  excitement. 

"  I  think  I've  found  a  job,"  he  announced,  scarcely 
waiting  for  the  formality  of  greetings.  "  I'm  not  sure, 
but  I  want  to  talk  it  over  with  you." 

"What  is  it,  Allen?"  cried  Alice,  expectantly. 

"  It's  a  whole  lot  better  than  it  sounds,  I'm  sure. 
I'm  afraid  you'll  laugh  when  I  tell  you.  It's  selling 
books." 

"  A  book  agent !"  Mrs.  Gorham  exclaimed. 

"There!  that's  just  what  I  was  afraid  of."  Allen's 
expression  showed  mingled  distress  and  despair.  "  It 
really  looks  like  a  corking  good  chance,  yet  it's  a  ten 
to  one  shot  that  I'll  be  laughed  out  of  taking  it  before 
I  begin." 

[95] 


"  Don't  mind  what  I  said."  Mrs.  Gorham  hastened 
to  atone  for  her  involuntary  exclamation.  "  I  suppose 
it  can  be  a  perfectly  honorable  occupation,  but  I  can't 
help  thinking  of  some  of  the  experiences  my  friends 
have  had.  Tell  us  all  about  it." 

"  Eleanor  and  I  would  be  the  last  ones  to  discourage 
you,"  Alice  added.  "  I  think  it's  fine  that  you  have 
gotten  as  far  as  this." 

Allen's  drooping  spirits  revived  at  once,  and  he  beamed 
at  Alice  gratefully. 

"  I've  simply  got  to  get  more  experience,"  he  said, 
emphatically.  "  Mr.  Gorham  told  me  that  most  of  the 
best  companies  have  no  time  to  develop  their  own  ma 
terial,  and  I've  made  up  my  mind  definitely  that  I'm 
going  to  do  my  own  developing  right  now;  and  when 
I've  polished  up  the  material  until  I  can  see  my  face  in 
it,  I'll  apply  again  to  Mr.  President,  and  say,  '  Here 
I  am,  all  developed — now  will  you  give  me  a  job?' ' 

"  Splendid  !"  cried  Alice,  clapping  her  hands.  "  Now 
tell  us  what  you've  found.  Where  is  the  book-shop?" 

"  It  isn't  in  a  book-shop  at  all,"  Allen  replied,  his 
assurance  again  beginning  to  wane.  "  It's  just  what 
Mrs.  Gorham  called  it." 

"  Oh,"  the  girl  remarked — "  going  around  from 
house  to  house?" 

Allen  nodded  his  head.  "  But  think  of  the  experience 
I'll  get,  Alice,"  he  insisted.  "  The  directions  say,  '  If 
the  man  of  the  house  is  at  home  make  some  excuse  and 
call  again  ' ;  but  with  my  usual  luck  he's  sure  to  see  me 
first,  and  then  I'll  go  out  on  three  legs.  I  suspect  the 
material  will  get  polished  all  right.  But  the  talk  that 
man  gave  me  to  learn  is  certainly  straight  from  Per- 
suasionville.  Honestly,  I'm  tempted  to  buy  a  set  of  the 

[90] 


THE      LEVER 


books  myself — only  tempted,  mind  you;  and  so  far  I've 
resisted.  I'd  like  mighty  well  to  try  it  on  you  before 
I  take  any  chances." 

Alice  and  Mrs.  Gorham  exchanged  glances  as  Allen 
busied  himself  untying  a  small  package  he  had  brought 
with  him.  In  the  girl's  face  there  was  deep  concern, 
but  Eleanor  found  it  difficult  to  conceal  her  amuse 
ment. 

"  There !"  said  Allen,  triumphantly  producing  a  thin 
booklet.  "  Here  is  the  brochure,  as  they  call  it,  and 
here  are  the  rules  of  the  game.  You  take  the  instruc 
tions,  Mrs.  Gorham,  and  correct  me  if  I  go  wrong,  and 
I'll  try  to  sell  a  set  to  Alice." 

The  boy  endeavored  to  cover  his  consciousness  with  a 
broad  grin. 

"  Isn't  this  great !"  he  asked. 

"How  did  you  find  this  chance?"  Alice  queried,  still 
a  little  doubtful  as  she  seated  herself  in  preparation  for 
the  experiment. 

"  Saw  an  advertisement  in  the  Star — '  Agents  make 
one  hundred  to  five  hundred  dollars  a  week,'  it  said,  and 
from  what  the  man  at  the  office  tells  me  there  isn't  any 
chance  to  lose  —  except,  perhaps,  for  the  fellow  who 
buys." 

"  What  are  the  books?"  inquired  Mrs.  Gorham. 

"  Travel  books,"  Allen  answered,  promptly ;  "  the 
Home  Travellers'  Volumes.  Great  title,  isn't  it?  Of 
course  they're  not  meant  for  people  who  really  travel 
as  you  do,  but  for  those  who  stay  at  home.  You'll  sec 
in  a  minute.  Are  you  ready,  Mrs.  Gorham?" 

"  All  ready,"  was  the  reply,  as  she  held  the  leaflet 
of  instructions  where  she  could  follow. 

Allen   squared  himself   for  his   maiden   effort. 
7  [  97  } 


THE      LEVER 


"  I  have  been  requested,  Miss  Gorham,  to  give  you 
this  beautiful  brochure  which  describes  the  Home  Trav 
ellers'  Volumes.  This  is  one  of  the  many  color-plates 
which  adorn  the  work."  Allen  skilfully  held  the  pam 
phlet  so  that  the  pictures  could  be  seen.  "  These  won 
derful  volumes  supply  to  those  who  cannot  leave  their 
homes  all  the  pleasures,  benefits,  and  entertainment  of 
travel  in  foreign  lands.  Do  I  turn  a  page  yet?"  Allen 
appealed  to  Mrs.  Gorham. 

"  Not  yet,"  she  replied.  "  It  says,  '  Here  open  your 
prospectus  and  turn  to  the  first  color-plate.'  ' 

"But  I  did  that.  You  saw  it,  didn't  you,  Alice? 
Oh,  yes,  I  remember.  You  learn  how  the  people  get 
about  in  different  countries  and  cities ;  as,  for  instance, 
the  jinrikisha  in  Japan."  Allen  turned  the  page. 

"Did  you  do  that  hurriedly?"  asked  his  coach. 

"Do  what  hurriedly?" 

"  The  directions  say,  '  Turn  page  hurriedly.' ' 

"  I'll  remember  that.  Now  I  will  show  you  how 
Morocco  is  treated.  Great  Scott !  I've  forgotten  how 
many  pages  to  turn !  Here  it  is !  Look  at  it  quick, 
Alice,  before  I  forget  the  next !  The  author  tells  us 
that  the  natives  have  such  a  hatred  for  Christians 
that  they  refuse  to  use  these  splendid  bridges.  The 
Moors—" 

"  Wait,"  interrupted  Mrs.  Gorham.  "  It  says  here, 
'  Emphasize  the  pictures  by  pointing  to  the  bridges.' ' 

"  All  right — consider  those  bridges  pointed  to,  Alice. 
The  Moors  are  intellectual  mummies."  Allen  carefully 
turned  two  pages,  and  encouraged  by  a  nod  of  approval 
from  Mrs.  Gorham  proceeded.  "  Why,  Miss  Gorham, 
if  a  Moor  happens  to  sit  down  upon  a  tack  he  doesn't 
curse  or  swear  or  rail  at  fate ;  he  simply  murmurs,  '  It 

[98] 


THE     LEVER 


is  written,'  and  carefully  replaces  the  tack  for  some 
other  Moor  to  sit  on." 

"  It  doesn't  say  that,"  Alice  protested,  laughing. 

"  Well,  if  it  doesn't  it  ought  to,"  insisted  Allen,  tak 
ing  the  instruction  sheet  from  Mrs.  Gorham's  hands  to 
prevent  Alice  from  satisfying  her  curiosity.  "  You're 
not  supposed  to  read  the  instructions,  you  know.  You 
are  just  to  sit  there  entranced  while  I  do  this  mono 
logue  act — you're  not  even  expected  to  ask  questions, 
as  any  indiscretion  such  as  that  is  apt  to  make  the  agent 
lose  his  cue.  Your  part  comes  at  the  end  when  I  give 
you  a  perfectly  good  little  piece  of  patient  paper,  which 
you  may  spoil  any  old  way  you  like  so  long  as  you  sign 
your  name  or  make  your  mark — all  of  which  you  will 
discover  in  due  time  if  you  follow  the  professor  closely 
and  learn  his  habits." 

Alice  and  Eleanor  were  convulsed  with  laughter  over 
Allen's  antics,  but  the  boy  soon  sobered  down  and  again 
assumed  his  dignified  demeanor. 

"  Please  observe,  Miss  Gorham,  these  endless  aisles  of 
arches  which  form  part  of  three  miles  of  stables  built 
by  Mulai  Ismail,  the  tyrant  sultan.  He  was  a  superb 
horseman.  It  is  said  that  he  was  able  in  one  graceful 
movement  to  mount  his  steed,  draw  his  sword,  and  neat 
ly  decapitate  the  slave  who  held  his  stirrup — 

"  You  are  reciting  that,  Allen,"  Mrs.  Gorham 
broke  in. 

"  I  know  I  am.     Isn't  that  right?" 

"  No ;  it  says,  '  Commit  the  following  to  memory  ab 
solutely,  but  appear  to  read  it.' ' 

"  Oh,  sorrow!  After  spending  all  that  time  to  learn 
this,  I  have  to  spend  some  more  time  learning  to  remem 
ber  that  I  have  remembered.  Isn't  it  the  awful  stunt!" 


THE      LEVER 


"  You're  doing  beautifully,"  Alice  encouraged, 
laughing;  "but  it's  a  shame  to  waste  it  all  on  an  au 
dience  of  two.  Why  don't  you  make  a  vaudeville  turn 
out  of  it?" 

"  There  you  go  asking  questions  again,"  pro 
tested  Allen,  "  which  is  strictly  forbidden  by  the 
rules."  The  boy  wiped  the  beads  of  perspiration 
from  his  forehead.  "  Honestly,  you've  gotten  me  so 
rattled  that  I  don't  know  whether  what  comes  now 
is  '  low  tone '  or  4  pass  the  next  picture  and  come  back 
to  it.'  " 

"  It  is  '  low  tone,'  Allen,"  Mrs.  Gorham  prompted. 

"  Thank  you ;  now  watch  me  make  a  noise  like  an 
innocent  cooing  dove.  The  idea  is  just  this,  Miss  Gor 
ham  :  the  Home  Travellers'  Volumes  not  only  enable 
you  to  see  and  to  enjoy  the  familiar  sights  and  scenes 
which  the  average  tourist  meets,  but  hundreds — nay, 
thousands  —  of  curious  and  wonderful  customs  and 
things  which  the  average  tourist  never  gets  the  chance 
to  see.  The  real  illusion  of  travel  is  spread  about  you, 
the  thousands  of  photographic  reproductions  carry  you 
along  comfortably  and  irresistibly,  and  the  whole  wide 
world  is  at  your  feet.  It  is  absolutely  essential  that 
you  should  know  something  beyond  the  narrow  confines 
of  the  city  or  town  in  which  you  live.  Successful  peo 
ple  acknowledge  this  to  be  a  fact — and  who  wouldn't  be 
a  successful  people?  Would  it  not  be  pleasant,  my 
dear  Miss  Gorham — surely  by  this  time  I  may  say  '  my 
dear  Miss  Gorham  ' — to  be  able  to  talk  with  confidence 
and  almost  human  intelligence  about  the  curious  man 
ners,  customs,  and  costumes  of  foreign  lands?  Why, 
of  course  it  would — and  how  else  can  you  obtain  this 
ability  in  so  inexpensive,  easy,  and  agreeable  a  way  as 

[100] 


THE      LEVER 


by  subscribing  for  a  set  of  the  Home  Travellers'  Vol 
umes?" 

Mrs.  Gorham  and  Alice  greeted  this  climax  with  ap 
plause,  but  Allen  sternly  checked  them^  with  upraised 
hand. 

"  No  flowers,  please,  until  after  the  contract  is  signed. 
I  have  already  learned,  during  my  brief  career  as  an 
agent,  that  no  widows  or  orphan  children  are  fed  or 
clothed  by  the  empty,  though  well-meant,  plaudits  of 
an  enthusiastic  populace.  And  now,  my  dear  Miss  Gor 
ham — for  you  are  still  very  dear  to  me — this  is  the 
beautiful  full  Persian  Levant  binding,  hand-tooled  in 
French  gold,  which  I  am  permitted  to  offer  you  at  three 
times  what  it  is  worth.  If  you  have  more  money  than 
I  think  you  have,  we  will  bind  up  a  set  specially  for 
you  for  just  that  amount.  If,  on  the  other  hand,  your 
financial  resources  have  been  overestimated  here  is  an 
other  binding  at  half  the  price  which  is  exactly  as  good, 
but  which  is  prepared  for  just  such  an  emergency.  I 
leave  it  entirely  to  you  to  say  which  of  the  three  it 
shall  be.  Could  any  proposition  be  fairer  or  more 
generous  ?" 

"  But  suppose — '  Alice  began. 

"I  beg  your  pardon,"  Allen  stopped  her;  "the 
patient  in  the  operating-chair  is  not  allowed  to  sup 
pose.  Here  is  a  little  piece  of  paper  and  an  easy- 
flowing  fountain-pen.  This  is  where  you  place  your 
name  and  address  for  the  delivery  of  the  volumes." 

"  But  that  is  a  contract  blank,  Allen,"  remarked  Mrs. 
Gorham. 

"  I  know  it  is,  but  you  have  no  right  even  to  think 
such  a  thing.  Alice  mustn't  sign  it  right  off  or  it  won't 
be  any  practice.  What  do  the  directions  say?" 

[101] 


THE      LEVER 


Mrs.  Gorham  turned  again  to  the  paper  in  her  hand. 
"  '  If  the  prospective  customer  should  hesitate,  withdraw 
the  order  form  for  a  moment  and  proceed.' ' 

"  Please  go  on — that's  as  far  as  I've  learned." 

" '  In  the  Home  Travellers9  Volumes  you  have  the  op 
portunity  to  gain  that  broader  view  of  things  which  a 
knowledge  of  the  world  alone  can  give  you.  Here  you 
have  all  the  pleasures  and  benefits  of  travel  with  the 
trouble  left  out.  Now  I  am  sure  you  agree  with  me 
upon  the  great  value  of  travel — and  agreeing  on  this 
point,  you  must  agree  with  me  on  the  value  of  this  great 
work.'  Here  offer  the  order  form  again  and  say,  *  Just 
put  your  name  and  address  down  here,  and  in  a  few  days 
you  will  be  off  on  one  of  these  delightful  journeys, 
and  every  member  of  your  family  can  enjoy  it  with 
you.'  " 

"  There !"  exclaimed  Allen,  proudly.  "  Did  you  ever 
see  a  surer  thing  than  that?" 

"  Arc  the  books  really  valuable?"  Mrs.  Gorham  asked. 

"  That  really  hasn't  a  thing  to  do  with  the  proposi 
tion,"  replied  Allen ;  "  it's  the  talk  you  buy,  and  the 
books  arc  thrown  in." 

"  But  you're  not  going  to  take  this  up,  are  you, 
Allen?"  Alice  inquired,  anxiously. 

"  Don't  you  want  me  to?  You  know  they  say 
Fortune  is  bald  on  the  back  of  her  head,  and  if  you 
let  her  once  slip  past  you  there's  nothing  left  to  grab 
hold  of." 

"  It  isn't  what  I  want,  Allen ;  but  what  could  it 
lead  to?" 

"  To  the  Consolidated  Companies,"  he  whispered, 
furtively.  "  I  am  bound  and  determined  to  show  your 
father  that  I  am  good  enough  to  be  annexed,  and  to  do 

[102] 


THE     LEVER 


that  I've  got  to  have  some  experience.  Can  you  think 
of  anything  which  would  be  apt  to  give  a  fellow  more 
experience?" 

"May  I  make  a  suggestion?"  Mrs.  Gorham  asked. 
"  I  think  it  is  a  very  good  idea  for  Allen  to  undertake 
this,  now  that  he  has  considered  it  seriously.  He  wants 
to  follow  your  advice,  Alice,  and  do  something.  Here 
is  the  first  opportunity  which  offers,  and  I  think  he 
ought  to  embrace  it.  I  should  be  glad,  however,  if  he 
would  promise  us  to  try  his  first  experiment  on  Mr. 
Gorham." 

"Gee!"  ejaculated  Allen. 

Alice  divined  Eleanor's  real  thought  instantly. 
"  Splendid !"  she  cried.  "  That  shall  be  the  condition. 
If  father  falls  a  victim,  your  later  success  is  certain." 

"  And  what  if  he  doesn't?"  Allen  asked. 

"  Perhaps  you'll  go  out  on  three  legs,"  she  suggested, 
mischievously. 


X 


COVIXGTON  returned  to  New  York  several  days 
before  the  Gorhams  left  Washington.  To  the 
casual  observer,  who  might  meet  him  even  daily, 
no  change  would  have  been  apparent  in  the  smoothly 
working  accurate  human  machine  which  found  its  ex 
ercise  through  his  personality.  His  face  never  showed 
an  emotion  other  than  that  which  he  wished  to  have 
seen  there ;  the  mouth,  that  most  treacherous  feature, 
was  protected  by  his  heavy  mustache,  which  in  turn 
merged  its  identity  in  the  dark  Vandyke  beard,  into 
which  all  expression  retreated  at  the  command  of  its 
owner ;  his  gray  eyes,  cold  in  the  metallic  stcelness  of 
their  shade,  penetrated  the  object  upon  which  they  fixed 
themselves,  reading  the  characteristics  of  others,  but 
yielding  nothing  in  return.  His  forehead  was  high, 
accentuated  by  the  thinness  of  his  face,  but  suggestive 
of  strong  mental  capacity ;  and  the  straightncss  of  his 
nose  evidenced  the  strength  of  will  which  had  done  much 
to  give  him  his  present  reputation  as  a  business  man. 

But  behind  this  impassive  exterior  much  was  hap 
pening.  It  was  not  so  great  a  change  as  it  was  an 
expansion  of  something  which  had  always  existed. 
Covington  had  made  his  mark  before  Gorham  discovered 
him.  The  older  man's  attention  had  been  attracted  to 
him  by  the  chain  he  had  developed  of  over  six  hundred 

[104] 


THE      LEVER 


separate  retail  stores,  all  dealing  in  the  same  commodi 
ties  and  each  one  an  individual  business  success.  Gor- 
hain  watched  him  post  his  sentries  at  different  street 
corners  in  the  city  he  was  testing  to  determine  the 
deVisity  of  the  traffic,  finally  selecting  the  location 
where  the  crowd  passed  most  steadily  all  day. 

"  I  am  never  fooled  by  the  noon-hour  crowd,"  Cov- 
ington  confided  to  him ;  "  they  spend  all  their  time  eat 
ing  lunch.  I  always  keep  away  from  streets  where  there 
are  banks — after  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  you'll 
find  as  much  retail  business  in  the  morgue." 

Gorham  saw  him  rent  whole  buildings  in  order  to  get 
the  particular  corner  store  he  wanted,  and  then  organize 
a  real-estate  business  to  handle  the  rental  of  stores  and 
offices  which  he  could  not  use.  He  saw  him  arrange 
his  show-cases  and  goods  in  such  a  manner  that  cus 
tomers  easily  found  what  they  wanted,  were  served 
promptly,  and  departed  satisfied,  to  return  again.  He 
studied  Covington's  system  of  turning  over  each  new 
store  to  a  chief  clerk  to  be  operated  on  a  percentage, 
thus  giving  him  all  the  dignity  of  a  proprietor  and 
stimulating  him  to  his  maximum  activity.  Promotions 
were  accomplished  by  transferring  the  clerks  from 
smaller  to  larger  stores,  which  automatically  raised 
their  salaries  by  the  increased  volume  of  business  on 
which  to  draw  their  percentage.  Gorham  listened  to 
the  instructions  Covington  gave  them  in  governing  their 
relations  with  customers — original,  forceful,  and  sane — 
and  then  he  witnessed  in  various  stores  the  practical 
demonstration  and  the  results.  This  same  genius,  he 
reasoned  naturally,  applied  to  a  similar  chain  of  large 
concerns,  would  enable  Covington  to  exercise  his  ability 
almost  to  an  unlimited  extent,  and  Gorham  succeeded 

[  105  ] 


THE      LEVER 


in  convincing  him  that  it  was  worth  while  for  him  to 
join  in  the  development  of  the  Consolidated  Companies, 
turning  over  the  retail  amalgamation  to  his  chief  sub 
ordinate.  One  by  one  the  master  mind  brought  the 
varied  corporations  into  line ;  one  by  one,  with  equal 
though  different  skill,  Covington  completed  the  work 
which  his  chief  had  begun.  Between  them  they  suc 
ceeded  in  filling  the  positions  made  necessary  by  the 
growth  of  the  Companies  with  efficient  and  enthusiastic 
subordinates,  so  that  each  time  the  chain  was  let  out  to 
admit  another  link  the  welding  was  accomplished  with 
out  weakening  the  strength  of  the  whole. 

Covington  had  never  from  the  first  sympathized  with 
Gorham's  altruistic  policies  except  as  a  means  to  an  end, 
nor  did  he  for  a  moment  imagine  that  Gorham  himself 
had  adopted  them  for  any  other  reason  than  their  in 
trinsic  business  value.  The  whole  scheme  of  the  Con 
solidated  Companies,  when  first  unfolded  before  him, 
appealed  to  his  appreciation  of  business  cleverness,  and 
he  instinctively  recognized  Gorham  as  his  master.  Dur 
ing  the  few  years  they  had  been  associated  in  the  same 
corporation,  Covington  had  seen  his  chief's  genius 
demonstrated  in  organization  and  administration  as 
well  as  in  conception,  and  he  had  not  been  slow  to  take 
advantage  of  the  lessons  he  was  given  sucli  ample  op 
portunity  to  learn.  He  had  expected  this  demonstra 
tion,  but,  with  a  consummate  confidence  in  his  own 
ability  to  assimilate,  he  had  also  counted  on  gradually 
lessening  the  gap  between  Gorham  and  himself.  Here 
it  was  that  he  had  made  a  mistake,  for  during  this 
same  period  the  development  of  the  older  man  had  been 
far  greater  than  his  own.  Covington  to-day  was,  per 
haps,  as  able  a  business  man  as  Gorham  had  been  when 

[10G1 


THE      LEVER 


the  Consolidated  Companies  was  born,  but  Gorham  in 
the  mean  time,  by  sheer  display  of  extraordinary  genius, 
had  become  an  international  figure.  The  business  rela 
tions  between  the  two  men  were  closer  than  ever,  but 
never  once  was  there  any  question  as  to  which  was  the 
master.  Covington  would  not  have  been  Covington  had 
he  not  resented  this ;  Covington  would  not  have  been 
Covington  had  he  not  succeeded  in  concealing  this  re 
sentment  from  all  the  world. 

With  the  knowledge  that  he  could  not  hope  to  share 
with  Gorham  upon  equal  terms  in  the  control  of  the 
Consolidated  Companies,  there  came  to  him  a  realization 
of  the  necessity  of  strengthening  himself  on  every  pos 
sible  side  in  order  to  be  prepared  to  take  advantage  of 
the  first  opportunity,  whatever  that  might  be  or  when 
ever  it  might  come,  to  alter  the  present  relations.  His 
marriage  to  Alice  would  be  a  step  of  prime  importance, 
but  this  alone  was  not  enough.  As  Gorham's  son-in- 
law  he  would  still  be  his  subordinate,  and  Covington's 
nature  demanded  an  opportunity  to  stand  at  least  on  a 
basis  of  equality  with  his  present  chief,  sharing  with 
him  the  arrogance  of  the  prerogatives  and  the  absolute 
autocracy  now  assumed  alone  by  Gorham  in  dominat 
ing  the  policy  of  the  business. 

In  Covington's  opinion,  Gorham  was  carrying  the 
principles  upon  which  the  Consolidated  Companies  was 
based  beyond  all  reason.  The  corporation  had  passed 
the  experimental  stage,  and  now  possessed  ample 
strength  to  take  advantage  with  safety  of  its  unique 
position.  Gorham  was  right,  he  admitted,  in  his  idea 
that  public  necessities  ought  to  be  reduced  in  price  when 
once  controlled  by  the  Companies.  The  public  approval 
and  general  confidence  which  this  established  were  of 

[107] 


THE      LEVER 


distinct  value,  but  there  was  absolutely  no  reason  for 
continuing  to  give  the  public  so  large  a  share  of  the 
saving.  It  was  not  so  much  the  amount  that  was  saved 
as  the  fact  that  a  saving  was  actually  accomplished 
which  served  to  advertise  the  Consolidated  Companies. 
Gorham's  real  motive  could  be  only  to  strengthen  his 
personal  prestige.  Several  of  the  other  directors  shared 
this  conviction  with  Covington,  and  he  made  it  his  busi 
ness  to  discover  just  where  each  one  stood  against  the 
time  when  this  information  should  serve  him  in  good 
stead. 

The  executive  offices  of  the  Consolidated  Companies 
occupied  an  entire  floor  in  one  of  the  most  spacious 
buildings  on  Broadway,  yet  to  a  casual  visitor  they  gave 
little  indication  of  the  vast  power  which  centred  there. 
The  rooms  were  substantially  furnished,  but  everything 
evidenced  a  restraint  equal  almost  to  the  conservatism 
which  is  so  distinguishing  a  mark  of  the  old-established 
English  houses.  This  was  an  expression  of  Robert  Gor 
ham's  individuality,  and  the  Companies  itself  reflected 
it  in  its  modest  exterior  appearance  as  in  all  other  feat 
ures,  emphasizing  the  one  influence  which  held  together 
and  amalgamated  into  a  composite  unit  the  many  factors 
which  necessarily  formed  the  integral  parts. 

Gorham's  ideas  of  business  management  were  sci 
entific,  and  his  first  step,  after  absorbing  a  new  concern, 
was  to  have  the  principles  of  science  introduced.  He 
insisted  that  the  workman  should  be  supplemented  by 
close  co-operation  on  the  part  of  the  management  in 
laying  out  his  work  for  him  in  advance :  by  showing  him 
how  to  eliminate  unnecessary  motions;  by  teaching  him 
to  make  every  portion  of  his  work,  however  simple,  a 
scientific  performance;  by  stud3fing  his  own  individ- 

[108] 


THE     LEVER 


uality  to  the  extent  of  assisting  him  to  correct  methods 
which  militated  equally  against  his  own  highest  ef 
ficiency  and  the  obtaining  of  the  highest  efficiency  of  the 
machine  he  operated;  by  bringing  him  to  a  realization 
that  traditional  knowledge  of  his  specialty  was  a  lower 
grade  of  skill  than  that  knowledge  gained  by  modern 
scientific  study. 

On  the  other  hand,  he  undertook  to  correct  faults 
of  administration  as  well  as  inefficient  methods  of  execu 
tion,  demonstrating  to  each  manager  the  cash  value  to 
the  Consolidated  Companies  of  this  close  co-operation 
with  his  workmen.  It  was  shown  that  greater  product 
was  to  be  obtained  from  workmen  who  performed  their 
tasks  under  conditions  which  tended  to  make  them  happy 
and  contented,  which  gave  them  opportunities  to  ad 
vance  themselves  to  points  marked  only  by  their  per 
sonal  limitations ;  where  they  could  maintain  their  self- 
respect  and  with  his  help  increase  it,  in  that  they  could 
hope  to  become  the  most  skilful  operatives  in  their 
particular  specialties,  and  to  earn  higher  wages  than  any 
employer  could  afford  to  pay  under  other  conditions. 
With  every  machine,  human  or  mechanical,  running 
each  day  at  its  maximum  degree  of  productivity,  Gor- 
ham  knew  that  the  corporation  could  well  afford  to 
share  its  largely  increased  income  with  those  who 
had  co-operated  to  secure  it ;  and  the  workmen  could 
not  begrudge  their  employer  the  augmented  profits, 
since  they  not  only  had  received  their  share,  but  be 
cause  they  knew  that  the  increase  was  the  result  of  the 
efforts  of  the  management  quite  as  much  as  their  own. 

Throughout  the  offices  themselves  was  to  be  found 
every  equipment  which  modern  ingenuity  had  devised 
for  shortening  the  processes  of  daily  routine,  and  of 

[109] 


THE      LEVER 


eliminating  or  reducing  to  a  minimum  the  details 
which  -so  clog  the  wheels  of  any  large  enterprise 
unless  properly  systematized.  Every  man  exactly  fitted 
the  position  in  which  he  was  placed,  and  the  machine 
moved  forward  with  an  accuracy  and  a  force  which 
was  irresistible.  The  same  casual  visitor  would  have 
noticed  this  had  he  been  at  all  observant,  and  could 
not  have  failed  to  admire  the  precision  which  marked 
every  business  incident,  however  trivial. 

Shortly  after  Covington's  return  to  New  York  the 
Companies'  offices  were  honored  by  a  visit  from  Mr. 
Andrew  Harris.  The  caller  asked  that  his  card  be  taken 
to  Mr.  Covington,  and  as  it  bore  a  pencilled  memo 
randum  that  his  business  was  important  and  confidential, 
he  was  ushered  into  the  private  office  of  the  acting  head 
of  the  Companies.  Mr.  Harris  seemed  deeply  interested 
in  studying  the  appearance  of  the  man  he  had  come  to 
see — so  much  interest,  in  fact,  that  Covington  resented 
his  scrutiny  and  inquired  the  nature  of  his  business. 

"  Excuse  me,"  Harris  said,  quickly ;  "  I  came  to  talk 
over  the  proposed  merger  of  the  New  York  street  rail 
ways." 

"  Then  you  doubtless  wish  to  see  Mr.  Gorham,"  Cov 
ington  replied.  "  That  is  a  matter  which  is  wholly  in 
his  hands.  He  is  at  present  in  Washington,  but  will 
be  here  within  a  week." 

"  Are  you  not  at  least  partially  familiar  with  the 
details?"  Harris  inquired,  apparently  unmoved  by  the 
news  of  Mr.  Gorham's  absence. 

"  I  could  scarcely  say  that  I  am  unfamiliar  with 
them,"  Covington  admitted :  "  but  the  idea  of  the 
merger  was  Mr.  Gorham's,  and  he  is  naturally  in  closer 
touch." 

[110] 


THE      LEVER 


"  Do  you  object  to  talking  things  over  with  me  a 
little?"  Harris  asked.  "  There  may  be  some  points  that 
I  know  more  about  than  Mr.  Gorham." 

Covington  nodded  acquiescence,  though  somewhat  in 
the  dark  as  to  the  object  his  visitor  had  in  mind. 

"  In  the  first  place,"  Harris  began,  adjusting  him 
self  in  his  chair,  "  let  me  say  that  I  am  a  director  in 
the  New  York  Street  Railways  Company,  which  is  the 
largest  of  the  present  organizations  which  are  eventual 
ly  to  be  consolidated  into  the  Manhattan  Traction  Com 
pany.  The  franchise,  as  you  doubtless  know,  has  al 
ready  been  put  through  the  Board  of  Aldermen,  and 
the  only  question  now  remaining  is  whether  it  is  to  be 
turned  over  to  certain  gentlemen  in  New  York  who 
originally  planned  to  complete  the  deal,  or  to  the  Con 
solidated  Companies." 

"  Mr.  Gorham  has,  I  believe,  advanced  to  those  in 
terested  very  logical  arguments  to  show  that  the  Con 
solidated  Companies  could  engineer  the  amalgamation 
to  the  distinct  advantage  of  the  various  roads,"  Cov 
ington  suggested,  as  his  visitor  paused  for  a  mo 
ment. 

"  He  has,"  Harris  admitted.  "  There  is  no  doubt  in 
anybody's  mind  that  what  he  says  is  right;  the  roads 
and  the  stockholders  would  be  distinctly  benefited — but 
how  about  the  directors?  That  is  the  question  I  came 
here  to  have  answered." 

"  It  is  a  question  which  Mr.  Gorham  must  answer." 

Harris  subjected  him  to  another  careful  scrutiny. 
"  Perhaps  so,"  lie  said,  at  length,  "  but  I  should  like  to 
get  your  opinion  on  the  matter.  You  are  one  of  the 
directors,  I  understand." 

"  I  had  an  idea  that  Mr.  Gorham  had  already  an- 
[111] 


THE      LEVER 


swered  that  question  to  Mr.  Brady,  and  that  there  was 
enough  in  the  deal  to  satisfy  every  one." 

"  There  is  enough  for  every  one,"  assented  Harris, 
with  decision ;  "  the  only  question  is  how  it  is  to  be 
divided.  We  all  supposed  that  we  were  to  become  stock 
holders  in  the  Consolidated  Companies,  in  which  case  we 
should  have  gained  something  at  both  ends ;  but  Gorham 
evidently  changed  his  mind  about  that,  which  leaves  us 
nothing  but  the  original  rake-off." 

There  was  something  in  Harris's  manner  which  an 
noyed  Covington,  yet  he  did  not  suggest  cutting  short 
the  interview. 

"  Who  are  the  parties  involved?"  he  asked,  more  to 
say  something  than  because  of  any  real  interest. 

"  Well  "  — Harris  became  reflective — "  there's  Col 
lins,  who  put  the  deal  through  the  Aldermen ;  he  can't 
expect  any  more  than  we've  already  agreed  to  give  him. 
It  cost  him  a  pretty  penny,  but  he'll  double  his  invest 
ment — we  can  leave  him  out.  Then  there's  Brady  at 
Tammany  Hall;  nothing  can  be  done  without  him. 
Gorham's  idea  seems  to  be  to  pay  him  his  price  on 
this  job,  take  a  receipt,  and  cut  loose  from  him;  but 
if  Brady  was  a  stockholder  in  the  Consolidated  Com 
panies  he  would  prove  a  mighty  useful  one.  Then  there 
are  two  other  directors  in  the  New  York  Street  Rail 
ways  Company  who  feel  as  I  do — that  we  ought  to  see 
something  more  coming  to  us  out  of  this  deal  than  just 
the  profit  on  our  stock." 

"  Is  the  opportunity  to  become  stockholders  in  our 
corporation  the  'something  more'  you  have  in  mind?" 

"Yes,"  Harris  assented;  "but  it  doesn't  end  just 
there.  We  have  a  little  scheme  of  our  own  in  connec 
tion  with  this  transaction  which  is  worth  money,  and  we 

[112] 


THE      LEVER 


could  put  it  through  easier  if  we  were  on  the  inside. 
More  than  this,  it  would  save  the  Consolidated  Com 
panies  something  in  the  long  run." 

"  You  have  secured  an  option  on  some  link  in  the 
chain  and  you're  going  to  hold  up  whoever  tries  to  put 
the  deal  through  until  you  get  your  price,"  Covington 
stated,  flatly. 

"  We  have  options  on  three  links,"  Harris  replied, 
frankly,  showing  no  surprise  at  the  accuracy  of  the 
other's  intuition. 

"  Can  you  make  more  out  of  it  if  we  get  the  fran 
chise?" 

"  Naturally,  since  the  Consolidated  Companies  will 
have  unlimited  capital.  If  we  were  stockholders  in  the 
Companies,  we  could  afford  to  make  the  terms  easier, 
because  there  would  be  less  trouble  and  expense  in  put 
ting  it  through." 

"Does  Mr.  Gorham  know  all  this?" 

Harris  laughed.  "  Well  —  hardly.  I  haven't  met 
Gorham,  but  from  what  Brady  tells  me  this  isn't  in  his 
line." 

"  Then  why  do  you  give  me  the  information  ?  Frank 
ly,  I  don't  think  it  will  help  you  with  Mr.  Gorham." 

"  He  isn't  going  to  know  anything  about  it." 

Covington  smiled  at  the  assurance  Harris  displayed. 
"  I  have  not  committed  myself  to  protect  you,"  he  said. 

"Quite  right,  quite  right,"  assented  Harris;  "but 
I'll  take  my  chances.  Now  I'm  going  to  tell  you  the 
rest  of  it.  As  I  said,  Collins  got  the  franchise  from 
the  Board  of  Aldermen.  Brady  is  a  director  in  the 
New  York  Street  Railways  Company,  so  he  keeps  Tam 
many  all  straight  for  us.  Our  company,  being  the 
largest,  was  to  be  used  as  the  basis  of  the  consolidation, 
8  [113] 


and  the  original  small  roads  were  to  turn  themselves 
over  to  us  for  nine  hundred  and  ninety-nine  years,  we 
to  assume  their  bonded  indebtedness,  and,  besides  this, 
agreeing  to  pay  from  eight  to  eighteen  per  cent,  divi 
dends  on  their  stock  issues.  After  these  payments  our 
company  was  to  keep  the  surplus  earnings." 

"  And  these  surplus  earnings  would  be  enough  to 
make  it  worth  while?" 

Harris  laughed.  "  Sure,"  he  replied ;  "  the  bond  total 
of  the  smaller  companies  is  about  one  hundred  million 
dollars  and  the  stock  total  only  four  million  dollars. 
What's  eight  or  even  eighteen  per  cent,  on  four  million 
dollars !  In  fact,  the  weak  point  is  that  even  with  the 
watering  we  intended  to  give  the  stock  after  we  got  it, 
the  profits  would  still  be  so  big  that  the  public  would 
notice." 

"  There  should  be  no  difficulty  in  fixing  that,"  re 
marked  Covington,  sagely,  amused  by  the  frank  con 
fidence  extended  to  him  in  spite  of  his  warning. 

"  The  only  difficulty  is  in  selecting  the  means," 
Harris  continued.  "  Now,  Brady  and  two  other  di 
rectors  and  I  have  secured  options  on  three  short  lines 
which  are  essential  integral  parts  of  the  system,  and 
it  was  understood,  before  the  Consolidated  Companies 
came  into  the  field,  that  the  new  company  would  pur 
chase  these  from  us  at  a  handsome  profit.  In  fact,  we 
four  are  a  majority  in  the  Board  of  Directors.  When 
Gorham  first  talked  about  it  Brady  laughed  at  him, 
for  the  thing  seemed  to  be  as  good  as  pulled  off;  but 
the  more  Brady  thought  it  over,  the  better  he  liked  the 
idea.  Our  plan  was  to  unload  the  stock  on  the  dear 
public,  letting  the  new  company  last  as  long  as  it  would, 
and  be  satisfied  with  our  profits ;  but  Brady  thinks  that 

[114] 


THE      LEVER 


Gorham's  scheme  means  success  for  the  company  as  well, 
and  naturally  we  would  prefer  to  have  a  continuing 
profit  rather  than  one  which  ceases  when  we  deliver  the 
goods.  Lately  Gorham  has  been  talking  more  with  the 
other  directors  and  with  some  of  the  big  stockholders, 
ignoring  Brady;  so  I  just  called  to  make  sure  that  we 
stood  in  on  the  profit  on  the  short  lines,  as  originally 
intended." 

"  How  much  profit  would  there  be  in  the  short  lines 
for  you  four  directors?"  asked  Covington,  interested  to 
see  how  far  he  could  get  the  man  to  commit  himself. 

"  A  half-million  apiece." 

"  H'm  !"  Covington  soliloquized.  "  It  doesn't  look 
quite  so  certain  to  you  since  Gorham  began  to  get  next 
to  the  other  directors  and  the  big  stockholders,  does  it?" 

"  They've  got  to  have  the  short  lines,  and  whoever 
gets  them  must  pay  our  price." 

"  Yes ;  but  in  one  case  it  goes  through  without  any 
public  demonstration,  and  in  the  other  it  leaves  a  smudge 
on  each  one  of  the  four  which  you  would  be  glad  to 
avoid." 

"  Exactly,"  assented  Harris. 

"  Well,"  Covington  said,  deliberately,  "  I  don't  think 
you  can  pull  it  off.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  since  you  have 
been  so  confidential,  I  may  say  that  Mr.  Gorham  is  con 
vinced  that  there's  something  crooked,  and  that  is  why 
he  dropped  the  idea  of  having  Brady  and  some  of  the 
others  become  stockholders.  We  have  to  maintain  a 
high  standard  in  the  Consolidated  Companies,  as  you 
can  easily  understand." 

Harris  looked  at  him  sharply.  "  Perhaps  the  stand 
ard  is  higher  among  the  stockholders  than  on  the  Board 
of  Directors,"  he  suggested. 

[115] 


THE     LEVER 


"  I  don't  quite  understand  you,"  was  the  cold 
reply. 

"  We  want  some  one  of  the  directors  to  steer  this 
thing  through  for  us,"  Harris  said.  "  That's  the  real 
milk  in  the  cocoanut." 

Covington  rose  from  his  chair.  "  I  think  it  is  time 
to  terminate  our  interview." 

"  Sit  down,  sit  down,"  Harris  insisted.  "  You  and 
I  have  a  mutual  interest  in  this  matter,  and  we've  only 
just  touched  on  it." 

The  man's  effrontery  amazed  Covington,  but  before 
he  could  answer  Harris  continued: 

"  I  understand  that  Mr.  Gorham  is  somewhat  par 
ticular  about  the  men  he  has  around  him,  and  you  stand 
in  pretty  close.  Now  he  probably  doesn't  know  yet  that 
you  have  been  picking  up  blocks  of  New  York  Street 
Railways  stock,  and  that  you  plan  to  clean  up  a  big 
slice  for  yourself  when  this  merger  is  put  through." 

Covington's  face  preserved  its  calm  expression, 
though  his  smile  seemed  forced. 

"  So  the  object  of  your  visit  is  blackmail?"  he  said. 
"  You  will  fail  in  this,  as  you  will  also  fail  in  your 
effort  to  force  Mr.  Gorham's  hand.  You  have  been 
misinformed — I  have  bought  no  stock." 

Harris  took  a  package  of  papers  from  his  pocket 
and  selected  a  single  sheet  on  which  were  written  cer 
tain  figures. 

"  I  was  afraid  it  might  be  a  little  hard  to  convince 
you  that  we  had  the  goods  on  you,"  he  remarked. 
"  Those  are  the  numbers  of  the  certificates  you  hold, 
and  here  is  the  total  number  of  shares.  Pretty  good- 
looking  list,  isn't  it?— and  it's  worth  a  lot  of  money." 

"  These  mean  nothing  to  me,"  Covington  insisted. 
[116] 


THE     LEVER 


"  I  repeat,  I  do  not  own  a  share  of  stock  in  the  New 
York  Street  Railways  Company." 

"  No,  but  your  stool-pigeon  does.  Why,  bless  your 
heart,  not  one  share  of  that  stock  has  changed  hands 
these  last  twelve  months  without  being  run  down  by 
Brady.  Had  to  do  it,  you  know,  to  make  sure  our  deal 
would  go  through.  Brady  owns  that  man  who  bought 
the  stock  for  you  body  and  soul.  Now,  how  does  it  look 
to  you,  son?  Will  you  come  with  me  and  talk  with 
Brady,  or  shall  I  see  the  virtuous  Mr.  Gorham  and  show 
him  what  you've  been  doing  on  the  side?" 

Covington's  face  was  as  impassive  as  ever  when  he 
turned  again,  looking  his  companion  straight  in  the 
eye. 

"You  won't  do  it?"  Harris  asked,  surprised.  "Bet 
ter  think—" 

"  I  shall  be  very  glad  to  see  Mr.  Brady  with  you," 
was  the  unexpected  answer. 


XI 


THE  Gorham  residence  was  located  on  Riverside 
Drive  near  Grant's  Tomb,  commanding  a  superb 
view  of  the  Hudson  River  in  both  directions.  The 
massive  stone  house  stood  well  back  from  the  street  in 
the  midst  of  an  extravagant  amount  of  land  for  a  New 
York  city  home,  and  the  high  wall  protected  a  beau 
tiful  garden,  in  the  use  of  which  the  whole  family  took 
much  pleasure  during  the  spring  and  fall.  Thither  the 
Gorhams  returned  after  their  sojourn  in  Washington, 
glad  to  exchange  their  cramped  quarters  at  the  hotel 
for  the  home  comforts  which  they  found  there.  Alice 
was  full  of  her  new  business  responsibilities  and  eager 
to  assume  charge  of  her  "  department " ;  Mrs.  Gorham, 
restored  to  her  home  city  and  her  early  friends  by  her 
present  marriage,  looked  forward  to  an  enjoyable  "  sea 
son  " ;  Patricia  and  her  beloved  pony  were  reunited ;  and 
Gorham  himself,  flushed  with  the  continuing  success  of 
his  gigantic  enterprise,  plunged  more  deeply  than  ever 
into  its  manifold  transactions. 

The  remaining  member  of  the  family — for  such  he 
always  considered  himself  —  was  old  Riley.  Servants 
might  come  and  servants  might  go,  but  Riley  the  faith 
ful  was  always  to  be  found  in  his  appointed  place,  oc 
cupied  by  his  appointed  task.  New  York  was  the  only 
home  he  recognized,  since,  in  addition  to  being  "  Misther 

[118] 


THE      LEVER 


Robert's "  place  of  residence,  it  also  connected  him 
with  the  one  tie  in  life  beyond  his  devotion  to  his  mas 
ter  and  his  master's  family.  This  was  an  only  son  who 
had  risen  by  degrees  to  be  a  pressman  in  a  local  print 
ing-office  and,  which  was  more  to  the  point,  had  become 
a  political  power  in  his  particular  ward.  Riley's  inter 
est  in  his  son  was  far  greater  than  any  reciprocal  senti 
ment  manifested  by  the  younger  man.  Occasionally  the 
father  ventured  to  look  up  his  famous  offspring,  but 
was  always  received  with  a  patronizing  indulgence;  and 
when  he  returned  to  his  own  insignificant  duties,  it  was 
with  a  sense  of  gratitude  for  the  reflected  greatness. 

After  one  of  these  rare  treats,  every  member  of  the 
family  could  read  in  Riley's  face  the  degree  of  cordiality 
with  which  the  old  man  had  been  received ;  so  when,  one 
afternoon  a  few  weeks  after  their  return  to  New  York, 
he  lingered  after  giving  Mrs.  Gorham  the  evening  pa 
per  in  the  garden,  she  noted  the  expression  of  expect 
ancy  and  turned  from  her  conversation  with  Alice  to 
gratify  his  unspoken  desire  to  be  questioned.  As  a 
matter  of  fact,  Eleanor  had  reproached  herself  for 
complaining  of  Riley  to  Mr.  Gorham,  and  this  was  an 
opportunity  to  make  amends. 

"  You  haven't  told  us  about  your  call  on  James  last 
night,  Riley.  How  did  you  find  him?" 

"  Fine,  ma'm,  fine,"  he  replied,  straightening  up  as 
he  realized  that  his  opportunity  had  arrived.  "  Jimmie 
is  th'  great  man,  ma'm,  if  I  do  say  it  as  hadn't 
orter." 

"  Splendid,  Riley !"  exclaimed  Eleanor,  glancing  at 
Alice  with  amusement.  "  It  is  a  fine  thing  to  have  our 
children  do  us  credit.  What  new  honor  has  come  to 
James  ?" 

[119] 


THE      LEVER 


"  I  don't  know  where  he  gits  it,  ma'm,  tho'  his  mother 
was  a  smart  woman,  but  he's  th'  clever  la-ad,  ma'm; 
indade  he  is." 

"  Do  tell  us  about  it,  Riley,"  Alice  added,  entering 
into  Eleanor's  spirit ;  "  we  are  all  impatience." 

"  He's  th'  clever  la-ad,"  Riley  repeated,  still  rolling 
the  sweet  morsel  under  his  tongue.  "  He's  th'  comin' 
man  in  New  York  politics,  I'm  thinkin',"  he  mused. 
"  Mcbbe  he'll  be  an  aldherman  yit.  Wan  iv  his  ancistors 
in  th'  ol'  counthry  was  a  game  warden  wanst — mcbbe 
Jimmie  will  be  an  aldherman  yit." 

There  was  no  use  trying  to  hasten  the  old  man,  and 
his  auditors  were  too  familiar  with  his  peculiarities  not 
to  give  him  his  own  time.  This  was  food  and  drink  to 
his  present  craving,  which  during  all  these  years  he  had 
found  so  little  opportunity  to  indulge.  The  successes 
which  he  had  enjoyed  were  won  by  those  for  whom  and 
with  whom  he  labored.  Here  was  the  hope  of  a  tri 
umph,  on  the  part  of  one  of  his  own  flesh  and  blood, 
which  must  reflect  its  brilliancy  upon  himself.  Suppose 
Jimmie  should  some  day  become  an  alderman !  No 
wonder  that  the  old  man  lingered  in  his  narrative ! 

"  Ye  see,  ma'm,"  Riley  continued,  "  Jimmie  is  th' 
man  th'  big  fellers  give  th'  money  at  'lection  time,  an' 
it's  all  lift  ter  him  where  he  puts  it.  All  that  respon 
sibility  is  his,  ma'm,  an'  that  makes  him  quite  a  feller 
hisself.  Th'  other  men  in  th'  ward  sorter  looks  up  ter 
him,  ma'm.  An'  thin  agin,  Jimmie  is  th'  fine  speaker 
an'  quick  wid  his  thinkers,  ma'm.  That's  why  I  think 
he'll  be  th'  great  man  soon." 

"  It's  a  fine  thing  to  be  given  responsibility,  Riley, 
and  it's  a  great  thing  to  be  trusted,"  Eleanor  humored 
him ;  "  but  it  is  even  more  valuable  to  be  a  fine  speaker 

[120] 


THE      LEVER 


and  quick  with  one's  '  thinkers.'     Has  James  had  much 
opportunity  to  show  his  ability  as  an  orator?" 

"  He  has,  ma'm,  as  I  was  j  ust  a-goin'  ter  tell  ye. 
Jimmie  come  near  makin'  a  mistake  two  years  ago.  Th' 
Republicans  offered  him  more  money  ter  come  over  ter 
their  side  an'  Jimmie  done  it.  Thin,  later,  he  seen  his 
mistake  an'  th'  Dimocrats  seen  theirs,  an'  Jimmie  come 
back  ter  his  old  roost.  Some  iv  thim  who  didn't  know 
the  true  innards  iv  th'  situation  blamed  Jimmie,  an'  at 
a  meetin'  th'  Dimocrats  held — crocus,  I  think  he  called 
it — some  iv  them  started  ter  hiss  Jimmie  when  he  begun 
ter  spake.  Th'  man  at  th'  desk,  whatever  title  he  has, 
thried  ter  stop  'em,  but  Jimmie  was  quicker  than  any  iv 
'em.  He  jumps  up  on  a  chair,  Jimmie  does,  an'  waves 
his  arms  theatrical  like,  an'  cries  out  good  an'  sthrong, 
'  Don't  mind  'em,  Misther  Moderator  (that's  what  they 
call  that  feller  at  th'  desk),  don't  mind  'em,  Misther 
Moderator — as  another  gintleman  wance  said,  they  know 
not  what  they  do.' ' 

"  Did  James  know  who  the  '  other  gentleman '  was  ?" 
asked  Mrs.  Gorham,  with  difficulty  suppressing  a  laugh. 

"  He  may  have,  ma'm,  but  I'm  not  sure,"  Riley  re 
plied,  honestly.  "  Me  an'  th'  ol'  woman  allus  thried  ter 
bring  Jimmie  up  wid  a  knowledge  iv  th'  Scripters,  an' 
I'm  hopin'  he  did  know ;  but  I  ain't  shure,  ma'm." 

As  Riley  disappeared  into  the  house  Eleanor  rose 
and,  drawing  Alice's  arm  through  her  own,  the  two 
resumed  their  leisurely  stroll  about  the  garden. 

"  I  wonder  if  Riley  has  forgiven  me  for  marrying 
your  father,"  Eleanor  queried,  laughingly.  "  He  looks 
upon  '  Mr.  Robert '  as  his  personal  property,  and  I 
really  believe  he  has  always  resented  my  presence  as  an 
intrusion." 

[121] 


THE      LEVER 


"  Pat  is  the  only  one  who  can  make  him  stand  around," 
Alice  admitted  ;  "  but,  seriously,  I  think  he  looks  upon 
you  as  a  real  addition  to  the  family.  That's  a  proud 
position  for  you  to  have  attained  in  four  years." 

"  I  hope  y°u  are  right,"  Eleanor  laughed  again. 
"  Without  Rilcy's  approval,  peace  in  the  Gorham  fam 
ily  would  be  impossible.  Now  tell  me  what  you  are 
thinking  over  so  seriously.  I've  been  on  the  point  of 
asking  you  ever  since  luncheon." 

Alice  looked  up  quickly  and  smiled  brightly. 

"Am  I  serious?"  she  asked.  "I  didn't  realize  that 
I  became  thoughtful  so  seldom  as  to  have  it  attract  at 
tention  ;  but,  since  you  ask,  I  am  wondering  how  my 
business  experiment  is  going  to  work  out." 

"  Mr.  Covington  is  an  able  instructor,  and  I  feel 
sure  that  his  pupil  is  a  proficient  one." 

"  Isn't  it  good  of  him  to  give  me  so  much  time !  He 
hasn't  missed  a  morning  since  we  returned.  Oh,  it's 
wonderful  to  listen  to  him,  he  knows  so  much  about 
things ;  and  it  all  seems  simple  enough  after  he  explains 
it.  He  is  very  patient  with  me,  even  though  I  know 
he  thinks  I'm  awfully  stupid." 

"  He  doesn't  seem  to  find  the  task  irksome,"  sug 
gested  Eleanor. 

"  That's  because  he  thinks  so  much  of  father,"  the 
girl  explained.  "  He  has  told  me  a  lot  I  never  knew 
about  dear  daddy,  and  it  makes  me  love  him  more  than 
ever.  Mr.  Covington  says  there  isn't  a  man  in  the 
world  to-day  equal  to  father;  and,  of  course,  I  know 
he's  right,  but  it's  pleasant  to  hear  some  one  else  say  it." 

"  How  do  you  like  Mr.  Covington  as  you  become 
better  acquainted  with  him?"  Eleanor  asked. 

"  Very  much,"  Alice  replied,  sincerely ;  "  no  one 
[122] 


THE     LEVER 


could  help  it.     Next  to  daddy,  he's  the  finest  man  I 
know." 

"  Do  you  think  you  could  become  very  close  friends?" 

The  girl  laughed  merrily.  "  What  a  funny  idea !" 
she  exclaimed.  "  It  takes  two  to  become  close  friends, 
and  a  man  in  his  position  could  never  have  a  friendship 
with  a  girl  my  age — especially  when  he  has  this  oppor 
tunity  to  learn  all  my  shortcomings.  I  should  be  very 
proud  of  a  friend  like  Mr.  Covington." 

Eleanor  feared  to  disturb  matters  by  further  ques 
tioning.  All  seemed  to  be  progressing  favorably  in  the 
direction  which  her  husband  desired,  and,  as  he  said, 
Covington  was  undoubtedly  able  to  handle  the  situation 
himself.  Mrs.  Gorham  had  watched  the  "  lessons " 
from  the  corner  of  her  eye,  and  had  seen  much  which 
had  evidently  escaped  Alice. 

"  I'd  like  to  ask  you  a  question."  Mrs.  Gorham 
looked  up  quickly  at  the  abruptness  of  the  girl's  sud 
den  remark.  "  You  are  the  only  one  I  can  go  to  when 
I  don't  understand  anything;  but  Mr.  Covington  told 
me  to  think  it  over  and  keep  what  he  said  entirely  to 
myself.  He  couldn't  have  meant  me  to  keep  it  from 
you,  could  he?" 

"  You  are  the  best  judge  of  that,  dear.  Has  it  to 
do  with  yourself?" 

"  Not  exactly — it  has  to  do  with  my  property :  the 
money  my  mother  left  me,  you  know." 

"  Why  should  he  interest  himself  in  that?" 

"  As  a  surprise  to  daddy — to  show  him  how  rapidly 
I  am  becoming  a  business  woman." 

"  I  think  you  had  better  talk  it  over  with  your 
father,"  Eleanor  said,  decidedly.  "  He  can  advise 
you  far  better  than  Mr.  Covington." 

[123] 


THE      LEVER 


"  Oh,  no ;  that  is  the  very  thing  I  mustn't  do.  That 
would  spoil  the  whole  thing.  Mr.  Covington  knows 
of  a  stock  which  I  could  buy  which  will  double  within 
two  months,  and  father  will  be  delighted  when  he  sees 
how  cleverly  I  have  invested  the  money." 

"  But  you  can't  do  anything  with  that  money  with 
out  your  father's  permission." 

"  Yes,  I  can ;  Mr.  Covington  has  looked  it  all  up.  I 
have  full  control  over  it  now  that  I  am  eighteen.  All 
I  have  to  do  is  to  sign  a  paper  which  he  will  bring  me, 
and  he  will  do  the  rest." 

Mrs.  Gorham  was  thoughtful  for  some  moments. 
"  Mr.  Covington  would  certainly  take  no  chances  with 
the  girl's  money,"  she  mused.  "  I  wonder  what  Robert 
would  think  of  it."  Then  aloud,  "  Did  he  tell  you  what 
the  stock  was?" 

"  Yes ;  but  you  mustn't  breathe  it.  You  don't  think 
I'm  betraying  a  confidence,  do  you?  He  was  so  em 
phatic  about  my  thinking  it  over  by  myself;  but  he 
couldn't  have  meant  not  to  tell  you,  dear.  It  is  some 
stock  in  a  street  railway  here  in  New  York  which  he 
thinks  he  can  get  hold  of.  Wouldn't  it  be  fine  to  double 
my  money !  But  I  must  promise  not  to  tell  daddy  how 
I  did  it — just  surprise  him  with  it." 

"  I  don't  know  what  to  advise  you,  Alice,"  Eleanor 
said,  doubtfully. 

"  It  must  be  all  right,  for  Mr.  Covington  knows," 
the  girl  insisted ;  "  that's  why  daddy  has  him  come  to 
teach  me.  But  I  shall  think  it  over  very  carefully, 
as  he  asked  me  to."  Alice  threw  her  arms  impul 
sively  around  Eleanor's  neck  and  kissed  her,  laugh 
ing  happily.  "  We  business  people  have  to  consider 
these  problems  very  deeply,"  she  said,  dropping 

[124] 


THE      LEVER 


her  voice.     "  I  will  tell  you  in  the  morning  what   I 
decide." 

A  heavy  step  upon  the  gravel  walk  announced  Gor- 
ham's  arrival.  Greeting  them  affectionately,  he  placed 
one  arm  about  the  waist  of  each  and  turned  from  one 
to  the  other,  looking  silently  into  their  faces.  "  My 
inspirations,"  he  exclaimed,  smiling;  and  as  Eleanor 
glanced  triumphantly  at  Alice,  the  girl  realized  the 
force  of  the  words  the  elder  woman  had  spoken  in  an 
earlier  conversation.  Here  —  in  them  —  rested  that 
power  which  stimulated  the  execution  of  affairs  of 
which  the  whole  world  talked ! 

"  I  have  news  for  you,"  Gorham  said,  turning  to 
Alice.  "  Mr.  Allen  Sanford,  late  chauffeur,  is  now  the 
right  arm  of  the  Consolidated  Companies." 

"  Do  you  really  mean  it !"  she  cried,  transferring  her 
caresses  to  her  father.  "  Have  you  actually  given  him 
a  chance?  Oh,  I'm  so  happy  about  it!" 

"  I  really  mean  it,"  Gorham  replied,  laughingly, 
amused  by  the  girl's  enthusiasm ;  "  and  by  doing  so, 
I  presume  I  have  incurred  the  eternal  enmity  of  one 
Stephen  Sanford." 

"  How  did  it  happen,  Robert?"  Eleanor  inquired, 
hardly  less  pleased  than  Alice. 

"  The  boy  has  some  promising  stuff  in  him,"  was  the 
reply.  "  He  has  more  to  get  over  than  most  youngsters 
have;  but  his  very  impulsiveness,  properly  controlled, 
may  prove  an  asset.  The  young  rascal  almost  sold 
me  a  set  of  the  Home  Travellers'  Volumes,  and  with 
all  his  amateurishness  he  showed  a  good  deal  of 
skill,  and  an  unlimited  amount  of  imagination.  I've 
wanted  to  give  him  a  chance  ever  since  Stephen  threw 
him  over,  and  now  I'm  going  to  do  it." 

[125] 


THE      LEVER 


Alice  became  serious  again  after  her  first  outburst. 
"Who  is  going  to  teach  him?"  she  asked. 

:$'  Experience  will  be  his  best  master,"  Gorhain  re 
plied,  surprised  by  her  question. 

"  Don't  you  think  I  could  help  him  by  showing  him 
some  of  the  things  Mr.  Covington  has  taught  me?  He 
needs  an  inspiration  more  than  any  one  I  know." 

"  No ;  I  do  not  think  so,  young  lady,"  he  said,  shak 
ing  his  finger  at  her  playfully.  "  If  I  am  any  judge 
of  human  nature,  he  would  teach  you  more  along  certain 
lines  than  I  care  to  have  you  learn  just  yet." 

Alice  flushed.  "  How  absurd !"  she  pouted.  "  Allen 
could  never  interest  me  in  that  way.  Why,  he's  only  a 
boy.  When  I  marry,  daddy,  my  husband  must  be  a 
man  lots  older  than  I  am,  just  as  you  are  older  than 
Eleanor.  He  will  have  to  be  older,  to  have  had  time 
to  accomplish  all  he  must  have  done,  if  I  am  to  respect 
him;  and  there  couldn't  be  love  without  respect,  could 
there?  How  perfectly  absurd!  Why,  Allen  is — just 
Allen !" 

"  Of  course,  my  dear ;  I  was  only  teasing  you — and 
the  man  wrho  wins  you  must  have  accomplished  a  whole 
lot  more  than  you  demand  in  order  to  satisfy  me.  So 
that  problem  is  settled,  and  we'll  wait  for  the  Knight 
Adventurous  who  dares  attack  our  citadel." 

Alice  stooped  and  picked  a  gorgeous  dahlia,  upon 
which  she  fixed  her  still  averted  gaze. 

"  I  only  wanted  to  do  my  part,"  she  said,  apologet 
ically.  "  Allen  is  dreadfully  alone  in  the  world,  now 
that  his  father  has  gone  back  on  him.  I  think  I  am  the 
only  one  who  understands  him." 

"  Your  father  is  but  joking,  Alice,"  Eleanor  reas 
sured  her.  "  You  and  Allen  are  now  business  associates, 

[  126  1 


THE      LEVER 


and  it  will  be  your  duty  to  help  each  other,  all  for  the 
advancement  of  the  great  Consolidated  Companies." 

The  girl  looked  up  brightly.  "  That's  right,"  she 
said ;  "  business  associates  always  do  that,  don't  they  ? 
Now  I'll  leave  you  to  yourselves  until  dinner-time." 

With  an  understanding  glance  at  Eleanor,  Alice  ran 
up  the  terrace  steps  and  into  the  house.  Mrs.  Gorham 
repeated  to  her  husband  the  girl's  conversation  and  add 
ed  her  own  interpretation  of  the  situation,  carefully 
avoiding  any  mention  of  Covington's  proposition,  which 
was  the  one  subject  upon  which  she  would  have  pre 
ferred  to  talk. 

"  She  is  growing  up  too  fast,  Robert,"  she  concluded. 
"  We  must  make  her  play  more  and  forget  the  respon 
sibilities  which  she  insists  upon  assuming." 

"  She's  in  safe  hands,"  Gorham  replied,  smiling. 
"  Keep  her  young  as  long  as  you  can,  dear,  and  when 
she  has  to  grow  up,  even  to  your  mature  years,  help 
her  to  be  just  such  another  woman  as  yourself.  Cov- 
ington  gives  me  glowing  accounts  of  her  progress  in 
the  little  scheme  which  you  so  cleverly  suggested.  He 
seems  to  think  her  interest  is  more  than  a  mere  whim, 
but  I  can't  believe  it." 

"  She  is  a  strange  girl  in  some  ways,"  Eleanor  re 
plied,  "  and  we  must  watch  her  carefully  just  at  this 
crisis." 

"  I  don't  intend  to  have  young  Sanford  step  in  and 
upset  my  plans,"  Gorham  insisted. 

"  You  had  better  go  slowly,  dear,  and  let  her  work 
out  her  own  future,  guiding  her  quietly  without  her 
realizing  it.  Allen  will  have  to  win  her  respect  before 
you  need  to  consider  him  as  a  possible  obstacle.  Their 
interest  in  each  other  just  now  is  so  natural  and  unaf- 

[127] 


THE      LEVER 


fected  that  I  should  be  sorry  to  disturb  it.  Each  one 
can  be  a  real  help  to  the  other  without  any  danger  of  the 
complication  which  you  fear." 

"  They  are  both  at  the  inflammable  age,"  persisted 
Gorham ;  "  it  is  just  as  well  to  guard  against  uncer 
tainties." 

Eleanor  smiled.  "  We  are  all  inconsistent,  aren't  we, 
dear?  We  were  so  exasperated  with  Stephen  Sanford 
because  he  would  not  allow  Allen  to  express  his  own 
individuality,  yet  we  are  almost  ready  to  interfere  with 
the  development  of  Alice's.  All  seems  to  be  progress 
ing  exactly  as  you  wish  it.  The  child's  admiration  for 
Mr.  Covington  is  supreme,  and  with  Alice  that  is  the 
first  step.  Then  their  daily  intercourse  ought  to  give 
ample  opportunity  for  settling  the  question  your  way. 
But  if  it  proved  finally  that  her  happiness  was  depend 
ent  upon  her  marrying  Allen,  or  any  other  one  of  her 
admirers,  you  would  be  the  first  to  urge  it — wouldn't 
you,  dear?" 

"  Of  course  I  should,"  Gorham  admitted ;  "  but  I  can't 
consider  any  alternative.  Admiration  and  respect  are  all 
very  well  as  far  as  they  go,  but  they  are  no  guarantee 
when  a  good-looking,  impulsive  youngster  is  concerned." 

"  I  know,  dear,"  Eleanor  continued,  quietly.  "  A  man 
came  into  my  life  once  whom  I  admired  and  respected 
with  all  my  strength,  yet  I  never  loved  him." 

Gorham  paused  abruptly  and  looked  at  his  wife  with 
the  same  strange  expression  which  she  occasionally  noted 
upon  his  face. 

"  You  never  loved  him?"  he  repeated. 

"  No,  dear.  He  was  a  noble  character,  and  he  once 
did  me  a  great  service,  but  I  never  loved  him.  With 
Alice  my  one  fear  is  that  she  may  mistake  respect  for 

[128] 


THE     LEVER 


affection,  and  with  her  nature  such  an  error  would  ruin 
her  life." 

"  Some  time  you  must  tell  me  about  him,"  Gorham 
insisted,  still  reverting  to  her  chance  remark. 

Eleanor's  face  sobered.  "  Some  time  I  will,  but  not 
now.  It  is  all  a  part  of  that  memory  I  am  ever  trying 
to  forget — a  bright  lining  to  that  heavy  cloud.  Some 
time,  dear,  but  not  now." 

"  Suppose  I  have  a  little  chat  with  Alice  before  din 
ner,"  Gorham  said,  changing  the  subject  abruptly. 
"  The  child  must  not  think  that  I  am  neglecting  her. 
I  must  make  her  realize  how  proud  I  am  of  her." 

"  Do,"  Eleanor  replied.  "  I  will  follow  you  in  a  few 
moments."  She  sank  upon  a  convenient  scat  as  her  hus 
band  disappeared  indoors.  Here,  half  an  hour  later,  still 
communing  with  the  early  twilight  as  it  deepened  into 
dusk,  Alice  and  her  father  found  her,  when  they  came 
out  from  the  house,  arm  in  arm.  Who  shall  say  what 
spring  the  words  unconsciously  released,  conjuring  up 
before  her  unwilling  mental  vision  a  picture  of  the  years 
gone  by?  Who  shall  explain  the  apprehensiveness  which 
came  unbidden,  causing  known  certainties  to  be  forgot 
ten  because  of  the  disquieting  questionings  which  de 
manded  an  unanswerable  reply. 

"  I  have  dropped  my  flower !"  Alice  exclaimed,  as  she 
searched  up  and  down  the  walk. 

"  There  are  plenty  more  right  beside  you,"  suggested 
her  father,  surprised. 

"  I  must  find  this  very  one,"  she  insisted,  with  an 
expression    on    her    face    which    Eleanor    understood. 
"  Flowers  have  personalities  just  as  we  have — and  per 
haps  their  joy  in  life  is  in  giving  inspiration,  too." 
9 


XII 


WHENEVER  a  full  realization  of  the  fact  that 
he  had  actually  embarked  upon  a  business 
career  came  to  him,  Allen  was  completely 
overpowered  by  his  sense  of  its  importance.  He  blessed 
books  and  book  agents,  since  they  had  been  the  indi 
rect  means  to  this  much-desired  end.  His  chance  had 
come  to  him  just  when  his  optimism  had  begun  to  waver, 
with  the  hydra's  heads  multiplying  beyond  belief;  and 
he  proposed  to  show  Alice  especially,  and  Mr.  Gorham 
incidentally,  that  he  was  no  mere  callow  youth  idly  wait 
ing  by  the  wayside.  There  could  be  no  doubt  whatever 
regarding  his  intentions,  but  a  captious  critic  might 
have  suggested  that  it  would  have  been  the  part  of 
wisdom  to  allow  himself  ample  time  for  demonstration. 
Rome  was  not  built  in  a  day,  nor  docs  history  record 
that  youth  ever  acquired  the  experience  of  ripe  middle 
age  in  a  like  space  of  time ;  but  Allen's  instructors  at 
college  would  have  given  testimony  that  he  was  not 
strong  in  history.  So  it  was  that  he  bruised  his  head 
frequently  at  first  against  the  stone  wall  of  precedent 
and  practice,  in  this  particular  instance  made  less  yield 
ing  by  the  fact  that  the  vice-president  of  the  Consoli 
dated  Companies  distinctly  resented  his  addition  to  the 
office  force. 

These  first  busy  weeks  were  giving  Allen  ample  op- 
[130] 


THE      LEVER 


portunity  to  gain  experience.  The  impetuosity  of  youth 
would  require  time  before  it  became  tempered  to  the 
degree  which  would  make  it  wholly  reliable;  but  his 
enthusiasm,  his  indefatigable  energy,  and,  above  all,  his 
absolute  belief  in  and  loyalty  to  the  head  of  the  Com 
panies  and  the  corporation  itself  were  elements  of  gen 
uine  promise.  There  were  moments  which  tried  the 
patience,  but  Allen's  mistakes  were  so  much  the  result 
of  over-eagerness  and  consequent  over-reaching  that 
Gorham's  annoyance  was  always  short-lived.  Even  the 
errors  gave  evidence  that  underneath  the  boyish  irre 
sponsibility  lay  excellent  material  for  the  elder  man  to 
mould. 

"  Once  upon  a  time  " — Gorham  put  the  words  in  the 
form  of  a  parable — "  there  was  a  boy  who  was  ambitious 
to  jump  a  very  long  distance.  On  the  day  of  the  con 
test,  in  order  to  make  sure  of  accomplishing  his  pur 
pose,  he  took  an  extra  long  start,  and  ran  so  hard  that 
when  he  reached  the  mark  from  which  he  was  to  jump 
he  had  spent  his  strength." 

Stephen  Sanford  had  not  disappointed  Gorham  in 
the  attitude  he  took  when  he  first  learned  that  Allen 
had  been  given  a  position  with  the  Consolidated  Com 
panies.  The  letter  which  he  wrote  to  his  old  friend 
contained  accusations  of  the  basest  treachery  which  one 
man  could  show  toward  another:  Gorham  had  deliber 
ately  planned  to  separate  father  and  son ;  he  had  dis 
covered  the  boy's  rare  business  qualifications  and  taken 
advantage  of  them  for  his  own  personal  ends.  The  act 
was  in  keeping  with  the  basis  upon  which  his  whole 
company  was  founded.  Gorham's  good  -  nature  was 
taxed  to  its  utmost,  but  he  fully  realized  how  deeply 
his  old  friend  was  wounded ;  and  the  knowledge  that  his 


THE     LEVER 


own  interest  in  Allen  was  in  reality  a  genuine  service 
to  Sanford  himself  served  to  blunt  the  force  of  the 
attack. 

Allen,  oblivious  to  everything  except  the  present  op 
portunity  to  prove  himself  to  Alice  and  to  be  near 
Alice,  plunged  ahead  until  Gorham  was  forced  to  change 
his  words  of  caution  into  actual  commands. 

"  You  are  trying  to  put  the  head  of  the  wedge  in  first, 
my  boy,"  the  older  man  told  him.  "  You  are  using 
twenty  pounds  of  steam  to  do  the  work  of  two,  and 
that  does  no  credit  to  your  judgment." 

Covington  was  negatively  antagonistic  from  the 
start  in  that  quiet,  skilful  way  which  kept  his  animosity 
from  any  specific  expression.  Allen  felt  it,  and  recipro 
cated  the  feeling  with  an  intensity  not  lessened  by  the 
knowledge  that  Covington  and  Alice  were  thrown  to 
gether  almost  daily  by  this  business  arrangement  which 
seemed  to  him  the  height  of  absurdity.  He  did  not 
approve  of  the  business  manners  which  the  girl  delighted 
to  assume  with  him  when  they  chanced  to  meet,  and  he 
watched  for  an  opportunity  to  tell  her  so. 

As  the  opportunity  seemed  slow  in  coming,  with 
characteristic  energy  he  made  one  to  order.  Gorham 
required  some  important  papers  which  he  had  left  at 
his  house  the  night  before,  and  the  boy  so  arranged 
his  arrival  that  he  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  Covington 
depart,  although  he  himself  was  unobserved.  He  found 
Alice  deep  in  the  mysterious  detail  of  her  growing  re 
sponsibility,  but  not  at  all  disturbed  to  be  discovered  at 
her  work.  The  desk  which  had  been  placed  in  her  fath 
er's  library  was  as  near  a  duplicate  of  his  in  reduced  size 
as  could  be  found.  A  bunch  of  letters  covered  one  end 
of  it,  while  a  neatly  arranged  pile  of  checks  directly  in 

[132] 


THE     LEVER 


front  of  her  showed  that  the  contents  of  her  mail  had 
proved  profitable.  She  told  Riley  to  bring  Allen  here, 
and  the  boy  stood  regarding  her  for  a  moment  before 
she  looked  up. 

"  Don't  let  me  disturb  you,  Miss — Manager,"  he  said, 
loftily,  as  he  caught  her  eye.  "  We  magnates  become 
peeved  by  interruptions — I  always  do  myself." 

Alice  laughed  as  Allen  unlocked  the  drawer  in  Gor- 
ham's  desk  and  placed  the  desired  papers  in  his 
pocket. 

"Isn't  it  fun?"  she  asked,  merrily. 

"  Isn't  what  fun  ?"  was  the  unresponsive  reply.  "  I 
haven't  burst  any  buttons  off  my  waistcoat  watching 
you  and  Mr.  Covington  do  the  turtle-dove  act  while  I 
drag  out  a  tabloid  existence  in  a  two  by  twice  hall  bed 
room,  and  stay  tied  down  to  my  desk  all  day.  Where 
does  the  fun  come  in?" 

The  girl  looked  at  him  in  complete  surprise.  "  What 
in  the  world —  "  she  began. 

"  Oh,  I  mean  it — every  word !"  he  insisted.  Now  that 
he  had  plunged  in  there  was  no  retreating.  "  I  say, 
are  you  going  to  marry  him?" 

"  I'd  be  angry  with  you  if  you  weren't  so  terribly 
amusing,  Allen,"  she  replied,  smiling  again  after  the 
first  shock  of  his  outburst.  "  Truly,  you  don't  know 
how  funny  you  are  when  you  try  to  be  serious.  It 
doesn't  fit." 

Allen  bit  his  lip.  "  I'm  a  joke  still,  am  I?"  he  asked, 
without  looking  at  her.  "  I  thought  it  was  the  pater's 
prerogative  to  consider  me  that,  but  I  see  he  didn't  get 
it  patented." 

"Is  it  being  a  *  joke'  when  you  ask  questions  which 
you  have  no  right  to  ask?" 

[133] 


THE      L  E V  E  R 


"  If  you  knew  how  I  feel  inside  you'd  think  I  had 
«i  right." 

The  girl  relented  a  little.  "  You  know  as  well  as  I 
do  that  Mr.  Covington  comes  here  simply  to  help  me 
in  my  business  education." 

"Business  fiddlesticks!"  he  interrupted,  crossly. 
"  You're  not  engaged  to  him  yet,  are  you?" 

There  was  so  pathetic  a  tone  of  entreaty  in  Allen's 
voice  that  Alice  could  not  deny  herself  the  pleasure  of 
being  mischievous. 

"  Not  to  him  alone,"  she  answered,  demurely. 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?"  Allen  demanded,  now  thor 
oughly  alarmed. 

"  Don't  you  think  it  is  better  for  a  girl  to  make  a 
number  of  men  comparatively  happy  by  being  engaged 
to  them  than  one  man  supremely  miserable  by  marrying 
him?" 

He  looked  at  her  aghast.  "  Who  are  some  of  the 
others?"  he  asked,  with  despair  written  on  every  feature. 
"  Is  Joe  Whitney  one  of  them?" 

"  Joe  Whitney !"  Alice  laughed  merrily.  "  Mercy, 
no!  Joe  is  entirely  without  resources.  If  it  wasn't  for 
his  family  troubles,  I  shouldn't  know  what  in  the  world 
to  talk  to  him  about." 

Allen  began  to  be  suspicious.  The  girl's  manner 
was  far  too  flippant  to  be  genuine,  but  he  would  not 
for  the  world  give  her  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that 
she  had  worried  him. 

"If  you  have  so  many,  why  can't  vou  add  me  to  the 
list?" 

"  You  ?  Oh,  that  would  never  do !  You  would  be 
sure  to  think  I  meant  it,  and  the  first  thing  I  knew  you 
would  try  to  make  me  marry  you." 

[134"] 


THE      LEVER 


"  Of  course  I  should.  Don't  you  want  to  be  mar 
ried?" 

"  Marriage  is  an  institution  for  the  blind,"  she 
laughed  back  at  him. 

"  Then  that's  where  I  want  to  be  confined." 

Alice  sat  up  very  straight.  "  Then  you  had  better 
run  right  along  and  find  your  guardian,"  she  urged. 
"  We  business  women  have  no  time  for  such  trifles." 

"  So  you  shirk  your  responsibility,  do  you?"  Allen 
looked  at  her  so  reproachfully,  and  spoke  with  such 
quiet  firmness  that  she  ceased  her  bantering. 

"  What  responsibility  am  I  shirking?"  she  demanded. 

"  Me ;  I  am  the  greatest  responsibility  you  have,  and 
you  are  neglecting  me  shamefully." 

Alice  gave  evidence  of  becoming  amused  again,  but 
he  gravely  checked  her. 

"  For  once  I  am  serious,  if  you  can  be  made  to  believe 
it.  When  we  met  so  accidentally  in  Washington — well, 
I  was  a  joke  then,  I  admit;  but  it's  different  now.  You 
gave  me  some  new  ideas  to  think  about,  and  the  more 
I've  thought  about  them  the  more  I've  seen  things  your 
way.  And  ever  since  then  I've  tried  hard  to  do  what 
I  thought  would  please  you.  But  now  I'm  sick  of  the 
whole  thing.  It  may  be  all  my  fault;  but,  anyhow,  I 
wish  I  were  well  out  of  it." 

"  Why,  Allen  Sanford !"  Her  voice  showed  astonish 
ment  and  reproach. 

"  I  do,"  he  insisted.  "  I'd  give  a  whole  lot  right  now 
if  I  knew  that  I  never  had  to  go  back  to  the  office 
again." 

Alice  was  genuinely  shocked.  "  I  can't  understand 
you,"  she  said,  soberly.  "  If  you  had  felt  this  way  at 
the  beginning,  I  shouldn't  have  been  so  much  surprised; 

[  135  1 


THE      LEVER 


but  now,  just  when  you  arc  getting  to  a  point  where 
you  could  be  useful  to  father  and  to  yourself,  you  begin 
to  show  the  white  feather." 

"  You  mustn't  say  that,  Alice,"  the  boy  replied, 
quickly,  his  tone  showing  that  she  hurt  him.  "  It 
isn't  quitting;  it's  a  question  of  whether  or  not  I  am 
fitted  for  business — but  you  mustn't  say  that  I  am  show 
ing  the  white  feather.  I  sha'n't  let  even  you  say  that." 

"  Father  says  you  are  making  a  splendid  start."  She 
tried  to  atone  in  part  for  her  severity.  "  That  ought 
to  mean  a  lot  to  you,  for  he  is  a  hard  man  to  satisfy." 

"  Did  he  say  that  ?"  Allen  replied,  temporarily  molli 
fied.  "  That  does  mean  a  whole  lot  to  me ;  but  it's  all 
your  doing,  and  you  must  take  the  responsibility.  Good 
or  bad,  I'm  your  business  creation,  and  you  must  stand 
by  it." 

"  No,  Allen ;  you  mustn't  put  it  that  way.  You 
settled  the  matter  for  yourself  when  you  took  the  stand 
you  did  with  your  father.  Of  course  I'm  more  than 
interested  to  see  you  make  good,  but  it  isn't  for  me  to 
accept  either  the  responsibility  or  the  credit." 

"  We  never  should  have  had  that  scrap  if  it  hadn't 
been  for  you.  I  shouldn't  have  had  the  nerve." 

"  Oh,  don't  say  that,"  she  begged. 

"  It  was  a  good  thing  all  right,"  he  hastened  to  re 
assure  her.  "  Except  for  that,  I  should  still  be  wearing 
pinafores,  and  it's  as  much  better  for  the  pater  as  it 
is  for  me  to  have  shed  them.  I'd  probably  like  business 
all  right  if  I  understood  the  blamed  thing;  but  it  isn't 
the  whole  show,  you  know." 

"Isn't  the  business  end  enough?"  she  asked,  quietly. 
"  It  is  for  me.  I  can't  tell  you  how  much  real  pleasure 
I'm  getting  out  of  this  little  scheme  father  has  turned 

[136] 


THE     LEVER 


over  to  me.  It  makes  all  the  other  things  which  I  had 
tired  of  seem  more  interesting." 

"  Business  is  all  right,  of  course,"  he  admitted. 
"  You  don't  get  much  idea  of  it  just  going  through 
those  letters,  but  the  real  thing  is  the  biggest  kind  of 
a  game  you  ever  saw.  It's  a  finesse  here  and  a  forcing 
of  the  opponent's  hand  there,  but  it  can  never  be  the 
whole  game  with  me." 

"  It  ought  to  be.  You  have  your  chance  right  be 
fore  you  now,  and  you  ought  not  to  need  anything  else 
to  urge  you  on.  Just  think,  you've  got  to  make  good 
to  justify  your  own  position  and  to  keep  daddy  from 
having  made  a  mistake." 

The  boy  rose  from  the  arm  of  the  great  chair  on 
which  he  had  been  resting  and  advanced  to  the  little 
desk  behind  which  Alice  sat.  With  his  hands  on  the 
end,  he  leaned  forward  until  his  face  was  near  hers, 
looking  straight  into  her  eyes. 

"  Perhaps  I  don't  need  anything  else,"  he  said  in  a 
low,  firm  tone,  "  but  it  wouldn't  be  honest  not  to  tell 
you  that  the  same  something  which  I  had  in  mind  be 
fore  I  started  in  business  has  been  there  ever  since. 
The  game  is  enough  in  itself,  of  course,  if  that's  all  it 
can  be.  But  don't  you  see  what  a  different  proposition 
it  is  when  a  fellow  sees  a  dear  girl's  face  ahead  of  him 
in  the  distance  just  beyond  each  obstacle  which  he  has 
to  meet?  Don't  you  know  how  much  better  you  always 
play  a  game  when  there's  something  up  on  it?" 

Alice  was  plainly  disappointed.  "  But  you  are  play 
ing  for  high  stakes  always,  Allen ;  there's  success  for 
the  winner  and  failure  for  the  loser." 

"  With  a  big  side  wager  in  the  dear  girl's  face  just 
ahead,"  he  added.  "  I've  got  to  keep  that  hope  in  my 

[1371 


THE      LEVER 


heart,  Alice,  to  help  me  to  make  good  quickly ;  even 
though  you  tell  me  not  to,  I  can't  help  it.  Why,  I  have 
done  it  so  long  that  even  if  I  knew  this  minute  you  were 
going  to  marry  that  Covington  person,  I  believe  I'd 
keep  right  on — hoping  to  get  a  chance  to  be  your  second 
husband." 

This  was  too  much  for  the  girl's  equilibrium,  and  she 
laughed  in  spite  of  herself.  She  failed  to  sense  the 
personal  side  of  Allen's  declaration.  He  was  develop 
ing,  and  this  to  her  was  only  a  phase. 

"  You  arc  simply  impossible,"  she  replied ;  "  but  we 
might  as  well  understand  each  other  right  now.  I  have 
no  idea  of  marrying  any  one.  Perhaps  some  day  I 
shall  change  my  mind  if  the  man  comes  along  who  is 
enough  stronger  than  I  am  to  sweep  away  all  the  ob 
jections." 

"  Does  Mr.  Covington  seem  likely  to  be  that  man?" 
Allen  asked,  pertinently. 

"  I  have  no  more  idea  of  marrying  him  than  he  has 
of  marrying  me,"  Alice  stated,  flatly.  "  I  admire  him 
extravagantly.  He  is  a  self-made  man — 

"  The  good  Lord  must  be  pleased  to  be  relieved  of 
that  responsibility,"  Allen  interrupted,  ill-naturedly. 

"  You  mustn't  be  so  prejudiced  against  him,"  she  re 
proved  him.  "  He  is  one  of  the  ablest  business  men  in 
New  York — daddy  has  told  me  that — yet,  out  of  re 
spect  to  my  father  and  kindness  to  me,  lie  is  giving 
me  more  of  his  time,  I  know,  than  he  can  spare.  I  am 
very  grateful  to  him." 

"  Well  "  —Allen  started  to  take  his  departure — "  we 
don't  seem  to  have  made  much  progress;  but,  at  any 
rate,  you  know  where  I  stand.  I  sha'n't  buy  any 
crepe  until  I  receive  the  wedding  cards,  and  in  the 

[138] 


T  H  E      LEVER 


mean  time  " — he  bowed  very  low — "  please  don't  over 
look  the  fact  that  yours  truly  is  your  greatest  respon 
sibility,  and  one  which  you  can't  shake  off." 

Standing  in  the  hall  at  the  foot  of  the  stairs,  Allen 
discovered  a  figure  militant  awaiting  his  descent.  Pa 
tricia  was  indignant  and  excited. 

"Hello,  Lady  Pat!"  cried  Allen.  "What's  hap 
pened  ?" 

Patricia  stamped  her  foot.  "  Alice  is  a  naughty, 
naughty  girl,"  she  cried,  with  tears  in  her  eyes.  "  I 
don't  love  her  any  more." 

"  Tut,  tut."  Allen  sat  on  the  lowest  step  and  soothed 
the  child.  "  Alice  is  all  right." 

"  No,  she  isn't,"  Patricia  insisted.  Then  she  pulled 
away  from  him  and  again  stood  very  straight,  immacu 
late  in  her  white  frock.  "  I've  been  listening  up-stairs." 

"  Oh,  ho !"  Allen  shook  his  finger  reproachfully. 
"  Was  that  a  nice  thing  to  do  ?" 

"  It  was  my  duty,"  the  child  responded,  impressively. 
"  I  always  do  that,  and  I  heard  what  she  said ;  but  I 
will  make  it  up  to  you." 

"  That's  awfully  good  of  you,  Lady  Pat." 

"  You  may  kiss  me."  She  held  her  face  forward, 
with  her  hands  still  behind  her. 

Allen  drew  her  into  his  lap.  "  There's  one  for  the 
lips,  and  one  for  each  eye,  and  one  for  each  check," 
suiting  the  action  to  the  word.  Patricia  worked  her 
self  free. 

"  Now  we're  engaged,"  she  announced.  "  You  may 
marry  me  as  soon  as  you  like." 

Allen  concealed  his  amusement.  "  I  can't  marry  you 
because  I've  made  a  vow  to  marry  Alice,  and  it  would 
never  do  to  break  a  vow,  would  it?" 

[139] 


THE      LEVER 


"  But  if  the  lady  won't  marry  you,  then  you  are 
released  from  your  vow,"  Patricia  explained,  showing 
perfect  familiarity  with  the  laws  of  chivalry. 

"  Not  until  she  marries  some  one  else,"  he  corrected. 

"  That's  all  right,"  the  child  assented,  cheerfully ; 
"  until  then  you  can  be  my  Knight."  Then  she  ma 
jestically  untied  the  ribbon  in  her  hair  and  held  it  out 
to  him. 

"  What's  this  for?"  he  inquired. 

"  For  you — to  wear  always.  Every  knight  in  my 
Round  Table  book  has  a  token  from  his  lady-love." 

"  I  shall  wear  it  next  my  heart,"  Allen  told  her. 
"  And  now,  fair  Lady  Pat,  good-bye." 

The  child  made  a  magnificent  courtesy.  "  Good-bye, 
Sir  Launcelot,  'til  death  asunder." 


XIII 


JOHN  COVINGTON'S  mind  had  been  fully  occupied 
during  the  few  days  which  succeeded  Harris's  call. 
Inwardly  he  blamed  himself  as  a  bungler  not  to 
have  covered  his  footsteps  with  greater  skill;  outward 
ly  he  was  as  unruffled  and  self-satisfied  as  ever.  He 
called  on  Brady  with  Harris,  as  he  promised.  He  al 
lowed  them  both  to  explain  their  plans  with  even  greater 
detail  than  Harris's  previous  disclosures.  He  listened, 
calmly  and  unprotestingly,  to  their  confident  statements 
as  to  what  they  proposed  to  make  him,  as  a  director  in 
the  Consolidated  Companies,  do  for  them.  Then  with 
equal  serenity  he  flatly  declined  to  yield  to  the  pressure 
brought  to  bear  upon  him. 

"  I  suppose  you  understand  what  this  means  to 
you,"  Brady  snapped,  angered  by  the  unexpected 
refusal. 

"  Better  than  you  do,  I  feel  certain." 

"  What  will  the  virtuous  Mr.  Gorham  say  when  he 
finds  out  that  you  hold  all  that  stock?" 

"  He  will  give  your  statement  no  credence  whatever." 

"  But  we  can  prove  it  to  him." 

"  On  the  contrary,  you  will  find  yourself  unable  to 
do  this." 

"  Didn't  Harris  show  you  that  list  ?" 

"  Yes ;  but  that  was  some  days  ago." 
[141] 


THE      LEVER 


"  You've  unloaded,  eh?  That  won't  help  you  any. 
We'll  find  out  who's  got  it." 

"  You  need  not  take  any  trouble  about  the  matter, 
as  I  am  quite  ready  to  give  you  the  necessary  informa 
tion.  Miss  Gorham  now  holds  the  shares." 

"  Gorham's  daughter?"  queried  Harris.  "Does  he 
know  it?" 

"  I  really  don't  know  whether  Miss  Gorham  has  ad 
vised  her  father  or  not;  that  is  her  affair." 

"  Well,  we'll  see  that  lie  does  know  it,"  stormed 
Brady ;  "  and  will  also  see  that  he  knows  how  you've 
unloaded  it  on  her." 

"  You  may  find  some  difficulty,"  Covington  replied, 
suavely.  "  The  certificates,  you  know,  never  stood  in 
my  name.  I  simply  acted  as  the  young  lady's  agent. 
If  you  can  make  any  capital  out  of  that,  you  are  at 
perfect  liberty  to  do  so.  Was  there  any  other  detail 
in  connection  with  this  matter  which  you  wished  to  dis 
cuss  with  me?  Mr.  Harris  and  you  have  been  most 
confidential,  and  I  might  possibly  feel  inclined  to  re 
ciprocate." 

"  You  know  too  damned  much  already,"  retorted 
Brady,  savagely.  "  I  was  a  fool  not  to  put  the  deal 
through  before  Gorham  got  into  the  game.  After  that 
it  was  too  late — the  stockholders  would  never  have  stood 
for  our  extra  rake-off  after  he  put  them  wise." 

Harris's  face  paled.  "  You  don't  mean  that  there's 
danger  of  our  getting  thrown  down,  do  you?"  he 
queried  in  a  tense  voice.  "  I've  put  every  dollar  I  own 
and  some  I  don't  own  into  this  pool  with  you." 

Brady  struck  him  familiarly  on  the  back  and  laughed. 
"  You  are  in  hard  when  you  show  the  white  feather  like 
that.  Cheer  up.  There's  no  question  of  being  thrown 

[142] 


THE     LEVER 


down.  What  do  you  take  me  for?  It's  only  a  question 
of  whether  or  not  we  can  get  all  there  is  in  it — that's 
what  I'm  worrying  about.  Gorham's  been  getting  next 
to  Littleton  and  Graham  all  summer.  I've  tried  to 
find  out  just  what  he  was  up  to,  but  he's  smarter  in 
covering  his  tracks  than  I  am  to  uncover  'em,  even  if 
he  ain't  quite  so  smart  in  some  other  directions.  He's 
been  in  to  see  me  several  times,  and  there  hasn't  been  a 
word  to  make  me  think  that  things  ain't  going  through 
just  as  we  planned  'em ;  but  if  they  are,  what's  he 
monkeying  round  with  those  other  fellows  for?  That's 
what  I  want  to  know.  If  our  friend  here  feels  like  re 
ciprocating,  as  he  says  he  does,  now's  his  chance." 

Covington  watched  the  two  men  closely.  He  may 
have  enjoyed  the  fact  that  the  course  of  the  conversa 
tion  had  turned,  but  if  so  he  gave  no  evidence  of  it. 

"  You  have  placed  me  in  possession  of  certain  in 
formation  which  obviously  wrould  not  assist  in  carrying 
out  your  plans,"  he  remarked,  suggestively.  "  Now, 
this  whole  transaction,  as  I  informed  Mr.  Harris,  is  in 
Mr.  Gorham's  hands.  Under  certain  conditions,  I  might 
not  feel  it  incumbent  upon  me  to  interfere." 

"And  those  are?"  asked  Harris. 

"  That  you  forget  my  insignificant  part  in  the  pur 
chase  of  Miss  Gorham's  stock,"  he  replied.  "  It  is  not 
of  great  concern  to  me,  and  you  are  perfectly  free  to 
communicate  it  to  Mr.  Gorham  if  you  choose;  but  in 
view  of  certain  things  which  have  occurred  since,  I 
should  be  glad  to  have  the  matter  dropped  if  agreeable 
to  you." 

"  That's  easy  enough,"  Brady  remarked,  showing 
signs  of  relief.  "  Is  that  all  ?" 

"  Yes,"  Covington  replied ;  "  I  am  not  as  avaricious 
[1431 


THE      LEVER 


as  you  arc  in  exacting  my  pound  of  flesh.  Now,  one 
other  thing  in  order  to  give  good  measure :  it  may  inter 
est  you  to  know  that  Mr.  Gorham  went  over  the  contract 
with  me  yesterday  in  detail,  and  he  is  going  to  accept 
it  as  it  stands,  paying  you  the  price  you  named." 

"  You  saw  what  it  stipulated,  Covington  ?  It  covers 
everything  just  as  we  turn  it  over.  He  can  find  out 
all  in  good  time  what  three  lines  ain't  included,  and  also 
the  price  his  precious  Companies  will  have  to  pay  for 
them." 

"  He  appeared  to  be  perfectly  satisfied,"  Covington 
continued,  calmly.  "  I  should  judge  that  everything 
was  all  right." 

"  Then  he's  been  wastin'  time,"  growled  Brady,  "  and 
he  can  have  all  the  pink  teas  he  wants  with  Littleton 
and  Graham.  We  directors  have  the  authority,  any 
how  ;  nobody  could  stop  us.  Who  the  devil  is  Gorham 
to  dictate  to  me?  He  thinks  he's  the  whole  show,  he 
does.  It  makes  me  sick  to  see  him  swellin'  around  with 
that  girl  wife  of  his.  She's  a  stunner  all  right,  and  I 
don't  blame  him ;  but  who  the  devil  is  she  ?  Somebody's 
divorced  wife,  ain't  she,  Covington?  Docs  anybody 
know  anything  about  her?  He  ain't  so  much."  He 
took  out  his  watch  and  looked  at  it  mechanically.  "  I 
guess  I'm  gettin'  old  to  have  these  nervous  spells — it 
ain't  like  me." 

Covington  bade  them  good-morning  and  returned  to 
his  office  fairly  well  satisfied.  The  danger  of  the  pres 
ent  situation  had  been  minimized.  He  felt  sure  that 
Alice  would  not  go  out  of  her  way  to  acquaint  her 
father  with  the  name  of  the  stock  by  which  her  property 
would  be  handsomely  increased,  and  he  knew  that  Gor- 
ham's  mind  was  too  full  of  other  matters  to  press  her 

[144] 


THE      LEVER 


for  the  details  unless  she  volunteered  them.  But  he 
must  be  more  discreet,  this  he  realized.  If  the  matter 
could  be  dropped  here,  he  would  have  learned  a  useful 
lesson;  and  then,  too,  the  interview  had  not  been  with 
out  a  suggestion  which  was  well  worth  following  up.  It 
occurred  to  Covington,  in  view  of  Brady's  remark,  that 
he  had  been  unpardonably  obtuse  in  neglecting  to  ac 
quaint  himself  with  the  details  of  Mrs.  Gorham's  early 
life.  He  knew  vaguely  that  she  had  been  the  victim 
of  unpleasant  experiences  before  her  present  marriage, 
but  what  they  were  he  had  never  learned.  There  might 
be  something  in  them  which  it  would  be  to  his  advantage 
to  know,  and  it  could  surely  do  no  harm  to  make  a  quiet 
investigation. 

On  the  following  day,  Covington  found  himself  in 
front  of  an  old-fashioned  brick  building  standing  al 
most  significantly  in  the  shadow  of  the  Tombs.  He 
paused  for  a  moment  to  wonder  at  the  enormous  gaudy 
sign,  "  Levy  &  Whitcher's  Law  Offices,"  running  across 
the  front  and  side  of  the  edifice,  which  impressed  him 
with  a  sense  of  its  vulgarity.  The  door  creaked  as 
Covington  opened  it  and  passed  on  into  the  dingy  offices 
— even  dingier  than  the  nature  of  the  business  done  in 
them  required,  because  of  the  dirt-trodden  floors  and 
their  unwashed  windows.  He  pushed  his  way  through 
the  bunch  of  process-servers,  messengers,  and  clerks  who 
littered  up  the  outer  office,  almost  tripping  over  a  torn 
law-book  on  the  floor,  and  finally  found  his  way  to  the 
waiting-room  of  Mr.  Levy's  private  sanctum  in  the  rear. 
Here  he  was  subjected  to  a  careful  scrutiny  by  the 
lawyer's  "  secretary,"  whose  personal  appearance  seemed 
to  indicate  greater  familiarity  with  the  prize  ring  than 
with  clerical  labors.  There  may  have  been  method  in 
10  [  145  ] 


THE      LEVER 


his  selection,  as  Mr.  Levy  was  a  gentleman  whose  pro 
fessional  life  had  been  spent  in  undertakings  which  a 
conservative  insurance  company  might  classify  under 
"  hazardous  risks." 

Levy  had  reached  a  point  in  his  career  when  he  could 
afford  to  keep  his  clients  waiting.  He  and  his  partner, 
during  the  twenty-five  years  they  had  been  together, 
had  prospered  even  beyond  their  early  dreams  of 
avarice.  It  was  their  boast  that  during  their  partner 
ship  it  had  not  been  necessary  to  open  a  law-book  three 
times.  There  was  always  a  way  to  beat  a  case  "  on  the 
facts,"  and  they  had  learned  the  way.  They  kept  no 
books,  and  the  pleasantest  part  of  each  day's  business 
was  the  five-o'clock  adjournment  to  a  neighboring  sa 
loon,  where  the  partners  had  punctiliously  divided  the 
millions  which  came  to  the  firm  during  the  years  of  their 
successful  association. 

After  a  delay  which  proved  more  or  less  aggravating 
to  Covington,  he  was  ushered  into  the  presence  of  the 
"  great "  man.  Levy  endeavored  to  be  courteous  in  his 
reception,  but  Covington  showed  scant  interest  in  con 
ventions.  He  plunged  at  once  into  the  nature  of  his 
business,  finding  Levy  an  interested  and  sympathetic 
listener.  It  was  some  minutes  after  his  caller  ceased 
speaking  that  the  silence  was  broken. 

"  Well,"  Covington  said  at  length,  coldly,  "  does  the 
matter  interest  you?" 

"  I  was  deliberating,"  tho  lawyer  rejoined,  almost  as 
if  in  apology. 

"  Do  you  think  you  can  discover  anything  of  in 
terest?" 

Levy  smiled  blandly.  "  How  can  I  say  as  yet  ?"  he 
replied,  conservatively.  "  There  are  certain  elements 

[146] 


THE     LEVER 


which  might  contain  interesting  and  promising  details — 
a  famous  man  married  to  a  divorced  woman  twenty-five 
years  his  junior.  We  might  easily  find  enough  so  that 
if  you  cared  to  push  it  he  would  prefer  to  make  some 
concessions  rather  than  suffer  any  unpleasant  notoriety ; 
and  she  may  have  a  past  which  she  would  do  much  to 
keep  forgotten.  Yes,  there  are  possibilities.  Do  you 
wish  me  to  investigate?" 

"  How  long  will  it  take?" 

"  It  may  require  a  fortnight ;  it  may  take  six  months." 

"  By  that  time  you  would  know  whether  there  was 
anything  in  it?" 

"  Assuredly." 

"  Then  you  may  proceed.  Advise  me  when  you  are 
ready  to  talk  and  I'll  come  in  again." 

"  There  is  one  other  matter,"  added  Levy.  "  In  case 
the  affair  develops,  it  may  be  fairly  expensive." 

Covington  looked  at  him  curiously.  "  I  presume  so," 
he  said.  "  Before  we  get  into  it  too  far,  I  shall  insist 
upon  some  understanding.  I  am  not  your  debtor  yet, 
am  I?" 

"  The  investigation  will  entail  some  expense  and 
time,"  Levy  continued,  thoughtfully.  "  You  might 
pay  me — say,  five  thousand  as  a  retainer." 

"  This  is  a  business  proposition,  Mr.  Levy,"  Cov 
ington  reminded  him,  sharply.  "  Thus  far  I  have  look 
ed  upon  myself  as  a  possible  plaintiff  in  the  affair — 
not  as  a  defendant.  I  am  not  obliged  to  proceed  in  the 
matter,  and  will  drop  it  right  here  if  you  propose  to 
start  in  by  trying  extortion  on  me." 

Levy  was  grieved  that  any  one  should  so  miscon 
strue  his  motives.  "  This  isn't  a  childish  play  we're 
going  into,  Mr.  Covington,"  he  replied,  mildly.  "  Gor- 

[H7] 


THE      LEVER 


hum  is  big  game,  and  I  presume  you  expect  to  gain  some 
thing  out  of  this  little  affair." 

"  You  presume  too  much,"  Covington  said,  shortly. 
"  Comments  are  neither  asked  for  nor  desired.  If  you 
wish  to  do  this  work  for  me,  I  will  pay  you  a  fair  price 
— yes,  a  high  price — for  your  services,  but  no  blood- 
money.  I'll  pay  you  a  thousand  dollars  now  as  a  re 
tainer;  I'll  pay  all  reasonable  expenses  and  four  thou 
sand  dollars  more  in  case  you  find  anything  of  interest 
to  me.  Then,  if  I  decide  to  use  the  information  later, 
I'll  make  a  trade  with  you  at  that  time  on  the  basis  of 
what  it  is  worth.  Do  you  care  to  accept  the  case  on 
these  terms?" 

"  The  conditions  are  most  unusual,"  Levy  wavered. 

"  The  case  itself  is  an  unusual  one,"  Covington  re 
plied.  "  The  chances  are  a  hundred  to  one  that  you  find 
nothing,  in  which  case  you  will  have  earned  your  fee 
easily.  Beyond  this  the  odds  are  at  least  as  great  that 
I  shall  make  no  use  of  what  you  find  out,  anyway,  which 
means  that  I  shall  have  paid  a  large  price  to  gratify  my 
whim." 

"  There  is  something  in  what  you  say,"  admitted 
Levy. 

"  Then  you  will  undertake  it  on  my  terms  ?" 

"  Yes ;  give  me  your  check  for  a  thousand  dollars 
and  I'll  start  the  ball  rolling." 

"  My  check?"  queried  Covington.  "  I  have  no  doubt 
currency  will  be  equally  acceptable." 

"  Thank  you  very  much,"  Levy  replied,  genially, 
placing  the  bills  carefully  within  a  capacious  wallet 
against  the  happy  hour  of  five  o'clock  in  Mulligan's 
conveniently  located  saloon. 


XIV 


THE  merger  of  the  New  York  street  railways,  which 
occurred  three  weeks  later,  was  Gorham's  first 
chance  to  demonstrate  to  the  public  what  the 
Consolidated  Companies  could  accomplish  in  handling 
a  great  metropolitan  transportation  problem.  The  fur 
ther  he  got  into  it,  however,  the  more  serious  the  problem 
became,  and  he  had  moved  slowly  to  prevent  any  pos 
sible  mistake.  But  now  he  was  ready  to  proceed  without 
further  delay  to  complete  his  previous  negotiations  to 
secure  the  traction  franchise  for  which  Collins  had  bribed 
the  Aldermen,  and  for  a  part  interest  in  which  Brady 
had  intimidated  Collins.  It  had  been  a  nauseating  piece 
of  work  even  to  Gorham,  who  had  become  only  too  fa 
miliar  with  the  particular  grade  of  business  "  morality  " 
permeating  those  possessed  of  opportunity  and  fortified 
by  responsibility.  Covington  was  never  able  to  reconcile 
Gorham's  willingness  to  do  business  with  men  of  this 
stamp,  and  the  apparent  personal  stand  which  he  took 
against  both  their  practices  and  their  methods. 

"  It  is  all  perfectly  consistent,"  Gorham  assured  him 
on  more  than  one  occasion.  "  It  is  often  necessary  to 
walk  through  filth  and  slime  in  order  to  reach  high 
ground.  It  is  a  serious  fault  in  our  business  system 
that  these  crimes  can  be  committed,  but  the  Consolidated 
Companies  is  not  responsible  for  the  system.  To  ac- 

[149] 


THE      LEVER 


complish  its  own  high  ends,  the  Companies  must  possess 
itself  of  certain  properties.  These  properties  are  at 
present  in  the  hands  of  dishonest  stewards,  but  these 
same  dishonest  stewards  are  legally  authorized  to  sell 
them.  The  Companies  buys,  therefore,  from  those  who 
have  to  sell,  and  its  moral  responsibility  begins  only 
upon  its  acquisition." 

The  transaction,  large  as  it  was,  proved  not  a  lengthy 
one.  The  franchise  was  formally  made  over  to  the 
Consolidated  Companies,  and  the  controlling  stock  in  the 
New  York  Street  Railways  Company  changed  owner 
ship.  Properly  certified  checks  for  the  franchise  and 
for  the  stock  were  duly  delivered  into  Brady's  hands, 
and  the  business  of  the  conference  seemed  to  be  com 
pletely  settled  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  concerned.  Still, 
Mr.  Gorham  and  those  who  had  come  with  him  showed  no 
disposition  to  depart. 

"  There  ain't  anything  more,  is  there?"  asked  Brady, 
eager  to  terminate  the  conference,  "  except  to  congratu 
late  the  Consolidated  Companies  on  acquirin'  a  damned 
valuable  property." 

"  Only  a  little  more,"  Gorham  replied,  quietly.  "  I 
have  asked  my  friends,  Mr.  Littleton  and  Mr.  Graham, 
to  be  present  this  morning,  as  I  found  that  they,  like 
the  other  and  smaller  stockholders,  had  very  little  knowl 
edge  of  how  their  affairs  were  being  handled  for  them 
by  their  directors.  They  have  received  their  dividends 
regularly  and  promptly  and  were  satisfied." 

"What  in  hell  is  this  a  preamble  to?"  Brady  whis 
pered  to  Harris.  "  My  nerves  ain't  quiet  yet,  even  with 
the  cash  in  my  jeans." 

But  Gorham  was  still  talking  in  the  same  low,  quiet 
voice. 

[150] 


THE      LEVER 


"  These  gentlemen,"  he  was  saying,  "  have  honored 
the  Consolidated  Companies  by  becoming  stockholders, 
so  I  thought  it  might  be  illuminating  for  them  to  be 
present  at  this  conference,  which  will  serve,  I  believe,  as 
well  as  any  to  demonstrate  the  methods  which  the  Con 
solidated  Companies  is  obliged  to  meet  and  those  which 
it  proposes  to  employ." 

"  I  don't  know  that  this  interests  me  much,"  inter 
rupted  Brady,  ill-humoredly.  "  Our  business  is  done, 
ain't  it?" 

"  Not  quite,"  Gorham  continued,  scarcely  heeding  the 
break.  "  On  behalf  of  the  Consolidated  Companies,  and 
exercising  the  rights  vested  in  me  by  my  Board  of  Di 
rectors,  I  have  just  handed  to  you,  Mr.  Brady,  a  certified 
check  for  one  hundred  thousand  dollars.  Why  it  should 
go  to  you  instead  of  to  Mr.  Collins  you  probably  know 
better  than  I — it  is  enough  that  you  have  his  authority 
to  receive  it.  I  happen  to  be  aware  that  this  check  repre 
sents  fifty  thousand  dollars  more  than  Mr.  Collins  paid 
to  get  the  franchise  through  the  Board  of  Aldermen,  so 
it  is  fair  to  assume  that  the  price  of  twelve  city  fathers 
is  the  same  as  two  private  citizens." 

Harris  found  some  difficulty  in  restraining  Brady  at 
this  point,  but  their  joint  uncertainty  regarding  Gor- 
ham's  ultimate  purpose  resulted  in  preserving  silence. 

"  In  addition  to  the  check  for  the  franchise,"  he  con 
tinued,  "  I  have  also  handed  to  Mr.  Brady  other  certi 
fied  checks  for  some  twenty  million  dollars  beyond 
the  par  value  of  the  stocks  of  the  various  companies 
included  in  the  merger  which  has  just  been  consum 
mated." 

"What  are  you  kickin'  about?"  demanded  Brady. 
"  Ain't  that  the  price  you  agreed  to?" 

[1511 


THE     LEVER 


u  It  is;  and  I  consider  the  properties  worth  the  price 
or  I  should  not  have  agreed  to  it." 

"  The  stockholders  ought  to  be  satisfied,  hadn't  they? 
They're  gettin'  good  returns." 

"  Yes,  they  ought  to  be  satisfied,  and  I  have  no  doubt 
they  are." 

"  Then  what's  the  point,  friend — what's  all  this  pal 
aver?" 

"  I  was  just  coming  to  that.  There  are  three  short 
lines  which  are  not  mentioned  in  that  contract.  May 
I  ask  if  there  was  any  special  reason  for  their  omission?" 

"  That's  our  business,"  snarled  Brady. 

"  I  know  it  is,"  Gorham  replied,  sharply,  "  and  I'm 
going  to  ask  you  to  attend  to  it  right  now." 

"  We'll  attend  to  it  when  we  get  good  and  ready." 
Brady  squared  himself  for  the  issue.  "  If  you  was  as 
smart  as  you  think  you  are,  you'd  have  thought  of  those 
three  lines  before  you  cashed  up." 

"  I  didn't  overlook  them,"  Gorham  replied.  "  I  can 
buy  them  cheaper  now." 

Brady  was  amused  and  showed  his  appreciation  of  the 
speaker's  humor  in  his  sidelong  glance  at  Harris. 

"You  think  so,  do  you?"  he  calmed  himself  enough 
to  reply.  "  I  presume  you've  settled  on  the  price  you're 
goin'  to  pay?" 

"  I  have,"  answered  Gorham ;  "  but  I'm  not  quite 
ready  to  quote  it.  The  stockholders  of  these  small 
companies  understood  that  you  were  purchasing  their 
stock  to  be  merged  with  the  New  York  Street  Railways 
Company,  didn't  they?" 

"  It  don't  make  a  damned  bit  of  difference  what  they 
thought.  We  paid  'cm  their  price." 

"  And  the  stockholders  of  the  New  York  Street  Rail- 
[  152  ] 


THE      LEVER 


ways  Company  thought  you  were  buying  this  stock  to 
be  merged  with  theirs,  didn't  they  ?" 

"  We  used  our  own  money  to  buy  that  stock.  You 
can't  find  a  thing  about  it  that  ain't  straight." 

"  Very  good.  Now  I'll  name  my  price  for  the  three 
lines.  The  Consolidated  Companies  will  pay  you  fifty 
thousand  dollars  for  them." 

"  Fifty  thousand !"  gasped  Brady.  "  Why,  we  paid 
two  hundred  thousand." 

"  Thank  you.  I  had  wondered  what  you  did  pay  for 
them,  and  this  information  is  no  doubt  authentic.  The 
stockholders  made  a  better  thing  out  of  it  than  you 
will." 

"  But  we  won't  sell  at  anything  like  that  figure." 

"  Oh,  yes,  you  will  if  you  sell  at  all,"  Gorham  re 
joined.  "  One  method  by  which  the  Consolidated  Com 
panies  has  succeeded  is  that  of  taking  the  public  into  its 
confidence  whenever  there  is  need  of  it.  To-morrow  we 
shall  announce  the  birth  of  the  Manhattan  Traction 
Company,  explaining  its  inception  and  its  intentions. 
We  shall  show  that,  although  we  have  paid  an  enormous 
price  for  the  purchase  of  the  properties,  we  shall  cap 
italize  at  one-half  the  amount  originally  planned  by 
those  who  would  have  carried  through  the  merger  if  our 
Companies  had  not  stepped  in.  We  shall  announce  an 
increase  of  transfer  privileges  and  a  reduction  of  fares. 
We  shall  guarantee  better  equipment  and  better  service. 
We  shall  also  carefully  explain  that  one  of  the  reasons 
we  can  do  this  is  that  the  company  will  be  run  in  the 
interests  of  the  public  and  the  stockholders  instead  of 
in  the  interests  of  a  few  individuals ;  and  we  shall  quote, 
in  proof  of  this,  that  we  purchased  the  three  lines  re 
ferred  to  for  fifty  thousand  dollars  when  it  was  orig- 

[153] 


THE      LEVER 


inally  planned  to  have  them  cost  the  Companies  some 
thing  over  two  millions." 

"  They  will  still  cost  the  Companies  *  something  over 
two  millions,' "  shouted  Brady,  "  and  the  public  be 
damned." 

"  Our  slogan  is,  *  The  public  be  pleased,' "  smiled 
Gorham.  "  The  offer  of  the  Consolidated  Companies 
will  hold  for  twenty-four  hours  only,"  he  continued, 
rising.  "  The  franchise,  you  will  perhaps  remember, 
grants  full  privileges  for  the  construction  of  further 
subway  connections.  Under  these  circumstances,  we  do 
not  urge  you  to  accept  our  offer — we  merely  invite  your 
consideration.  Now,  gentlemen  " — Gorham  placed  a  pe 
culiar  emphasis  on  the  word — "  I  believe  our  business  is 
completed.  The  time  limit  on  our  offer  will  expire  at 
noon  to-morrow." 

Covingtoii  was  an  interested  spectator  throughout  the 
conference,  and  Gorham's  supreme  command  of  the  situa 
tion  won  from  him  his  silent  but  profound  admiration. 
He  rejoiced  that  this  force  was  directed  against  others 
rather  than  himself,  and  he  realized  more  than  ever  the 
importance  of  taking  no  chances  of  coming  into  conflict 
with  this  man  who  swept  everything  before  him.  He 
had  enjoyed  watching  the  faces  of  Brady  and  Harris 
as  the  game  progressed,  but  his  enjoyment  encouraged 
him  to  remain  too  long  after  the  departure  of  the  others. 
Harris  was  cowed  and  frightened  and  seemed  almost 
ready  to  break  into  tears,  but  Brady  assumed  an  atti 
tude  which  fitted  him  singularly  well.  It  was  not  dis 
may,  it  was  not  chagrin — he  was  angry  to  the  point  of 
bursting.  To  Brady  the  one  sin  more  flagrant  than  all 
others  in  the  category  of  crime  was  failure,  and  in  order 
to  relieve  his  own  conscience  from  the  pollution  of  hav- 


THE      LEVER 


ing  failed  he  saw  fit  to  attribute  the  entire  responsi 
bility  to  Covington. 

"  You  damned  skunk !"  he  cried,  "  you've  sold  us  out 
after  promisin'  not  to,  that's  what  you've  done !  But 
I'll  get  back  at  you  if  it  costs  me  ten  years  in  Sing 
Sing!" 

Covington  for  a  second  time  went  directly  from 
Brady's  office  to  his  own,  but  the  former  complacency 
was  replaced  by  a  vague  apprehension.  A  threat  from 
Brady  was  worthy  of  consideration.  Among  the  per 
sonal  mail  which  he  found  upon  his  desk  was  a  plain 
envelope,  which,  for  some  unknown  reason,  attracted 
his  attention  enough  to  cause  him  to  open  it  before 
the  one  which  lay  on  top.  The  signature  interested  him 
even  more,  particularly  at  the  present  moment,  with  his 
thoughts  filled  with  what  had  recently  passed.  It  is  a 
precaution  of  the  experienced  mariner  to  inspect  his  life 
boats  with  especial  care  as  he  passes  by  a  dangerous  reef. 
The  letter  read : 

'(  The  divorce  papers  prove  to  be  shockingly  irregu 
lar,  and  there  are  developments  in  the  early  life.  Please 
call  at  your  convenience." 

Covington  crushed  the  paper  in  his  hand  and  turned 
toward  his  desk  with  a  changed  expression.  He  smiled 
as  he  looked  forward  into  space — the  first  smile  which 
had  lighted  up  his  face  for  several  days.  Then  he 
brought  his  clenched  fist  down  hard  on  the  desk  for  no 
apparent  reason  and  muttered  something  to  himself. 


A3  evidenced  in  the  message  received  by  Covington, 
Levy  had  not  been  neglectful  of  the  case  which  had 
been  intrusted  to  him  by  his  new  client.  Without 
much  difficulty  Buckncr  was  located  in  New  Orleans,  and 
identified  as  the  proprietor  of  a  low  dive  which  had  be 
come  the  rendezvous  for  the  most  vicious  outcasts  of  the 
city.  Drink  and  debauchery  had  long  since  destroyed 
the  physical  advantages  he  had  possessed  over  other  men 
at  the  time  of  his  marriage.  The  death  of  his  child,  to 
whom  he  had  given  as  much  affection  as  his  nature  pos 
sessed,  the  stern  arraignment  of  the  neighbor  who  helped 
him  to  his  ranch  and  later  brought  him  the  tragic  news, 
and  the  consciousness  of  his  own  responsibility  in  the 
accident,  all  combined  to  drive  him  almost  immediately 
away  from  the  scenes  which  reminded  him  of  it;  and  as 
time  passed  the  bitterness  turned  to  resentment  against 
his  wife.  If  she  had  not  left  the  ranch  that  day,  he 
argued  to  himself,  the  accident  would  never  have  hap 
pened.  She  had  loathed  him  for  months  before  the  final 
separation,  and  he  had  resented  the  disgust  which  she 
made  no  effort  to  conceal.  There  had  been  enough  man 
hood  left  in  him  then  to  feel  it  and  to  resent  it. 

When  he  first  heard  that  she  had  instituted  divorce 
proceedings  his  anger  returned,  and  he  determined  to 
hold  her  to  the  unwelcome  bonds  if  for  nothing  else  than 

[  1.56  ] 


THE     LEVER 


to  know  that  she  still  suffered ;  but  a  consultation  with 
an  attorney  showed  him  the  futility  of  any  defence,  so 
he  simply  held  this  up  against  her  as  another  affront 
to  be  wiped  out  if  the  time  ever  came  which  gave  him  the 
opportunity. 

But  he  had  long  since  given  up  all  hope  that  this 
time  would  ever  come.  During  the  years  which  had 
elapsed  he  had  drifted  from  one  city  to  another,  each 
time  taking  a  stand  a  degree  lower  than  the  preceding. 
In  New  Orleans  he  had  succeeded  in  getting  a  little  bet 
ter  living  than  heretofore,  so  he  had  settled  down  there 
with  the  idea  of  making  it  a  permanency. 

It  was  a  welcome  break  in  the  monotony  for  him  to 
receive  a  call  from  Levy's  agent,  and  the  fact  that  the 
visitor  felt  inclined  to  provide  liquid  refreshment  of 
a  grade  considerably  higher  than  he  had  been  able  to 
indulge  himself  in  for  many  years  did  not  detract 
from  his  welcome.  As  the  evening  wore  on  he  was 
quite  willing — almost  eager — to  tell  the  story  of  his  life 
to  this  agreeable  and  sympathetic  listener,  so  Levy  had 
been  materially  assisted  in  the  preliminary  investigation 
of  his  case.  Nor  was  the  welcome  any  less  cordial  when 
the  agent  appeared  for  a  second  time,  on  this  occasion 
offering  Buckncr  five  hundred  dollars  in  exchange  for 
his  "  time  and  trouble."  He  was  given  no  intimation 
regarding  the  nature  of  his  errand ;  he  really  had  little 
curiosity.  It  was  enough  that  it  paid  wliat  was  now  to 
him  a  princely  sum,  and  also  guaranteed  him  an  attrac 
tive  experiences  at  some  one  else's  expense. 

On  his  arrival  Levy  gave  Buckner  a  welcome  which 
raised  his  self-esteem  almost  to  the  bursting-point.  A 
box  of  costly  cigars  and  a  decanter  of  fine  brandy 
close  at  his  elbow  appeared  to  him  as  the  height  of  hos- 

[157] 


THE      LEVER 


pitality,  as  one  gentleman  would  extend  it  to  another. 
And  when  he  found  that  his  new  host  manifested  even 
as  deep  an  interest  in  his  previous  life  as  his  earlier  friend 
who  had  provided  the  money,  he  was  prepared  to  re 
ciprocate  in  every  way  that  lay  in  his  power. 

With  the  preliminary  acquaintance  thus  happily  and 
firmly  established,  Levy  opened  up  for  business. 

"  In  this  suit  for  divorce  which  your  wife  brought," 
he  asked,  "  the  summons  was  never  served  on  you, 
was  it?" 

"  Why,  yes,"  Buckner  replied,  slowly  refilling  his 
glass  from  the  decanter ;  "  it  was  served  on  me  by  a 
man  named  Murray,  at  Colorado  Springs." 

"  Oh,  dear ;  oh,  dear !"  groaned  Levy,  with  a  mix 
ture  of  pathos  and  incredulity,  "  what  an  unfortunate 
memory  you  have!  There  was  no  one  else  in  Colorado 
Springs  who  knew  about  it,  I  presume?" 

"  Not  there,"  Buckner  answered ;  "  I  sent  the  paper 
to  a  lawyer  in  Denver  named  Jennings." 

"But  there  was  no  correspondence  between  you?" 

"  Yes ;  there  were  two  or  three  letters." 

"  Where  is  Jennings  now?" 

*'  Dead,  for  all  I  know,"  he  responded,  with  a  cheer 
fulness  which  came  from  his  comfortable  environment 
rather  than  from  any  particular  pleasure  from  the  pos 
sible  demise  of  the  gentleman  in  question.  "  He  moved 
away  from  Denver  later,  and  I  haven't  heard  of  him 
since." 

Levy  was  absorbed  in  his  own  thoughts  for  several 
moments,  which  time  was  profitably  employed  by  Buck 
ner  again  to  replenish  his  glass,  and  to  help  himself  to 
a  fresh  cigar. 

"  Look  here,  Buckner."  Levy  spoke  so  suddenly  that 
[  158  ] 


THE      LEVER 


his  companion  guiltily  replaced  the  unlighted  cigar 
in  the  box.  "  How  difficult  would  it  be  for  you 
to  forget  that  you  ever  had  a  summons  served  on 
you,  provided  there  was  enough  in  it  to  make  it  worth 
while?" 

Buckner  boldly  placed  the  cigar  between  his  lips  and 
straightened  up. 

"  What's  the  game?"  he  asked.  "  Tell  me  what's  up, 
and  perhaps  we  can  make  a  trade." 

"  I  have  a  client  who  might  like  to  see  that  divorce 
decree  set  aside,"  Levy  began. 

"Another  friend  of  mine,  eh?"  Buckner  laughed  at 
his  own  joke.  "  Never  knew  before  I  was  so  popular." 
The  brandy  was  getting  in  its  work.  "  Every  one  is 
interested  in  my  marriage  troubles,  and  here's  one  wants 
to  gi  :e  me  back  my  wife !" 

"  Never  mind  that,"  Levy  stopped  him.  "  This  client 
of  mine  isn't  interested  in  you  or  in  your  wife,  but  he 
evidently  has  a  private  spite  against  Gorham,  who  mar 
ried  her.  He  may  not  care  to  push  it,  but,  if  he  does, 
do  you  see  what  the  game  is?" 

"  Sure  I  do,  sure  I  do,"  Buckner  answered,  thickly. 
"  Damned  good  game — I'll  play  it  with  you.  It  would 
hit  her  hard,  too,  wouldn't  it?" 

"  What  do  you  care  if  it  docs?" 

"  I  don't  care — glad  of  it — that's  the  special  reason 
why  I'm  willing  to  play  the  game." 

"  All  right ;  we'll  get  down  to  business.  I'm  going 
to  draw  up  an  affidavit  that,  as  far  as  the  divorce  pro 
ceedings  are  concerned,  you  never  retained  any  lawyer, 
and  never  were  served  with  a  summons,  either  in  Colorado 
Springs  or  anywhere  else,;  that  you  never  knew  of  the 
pending  of  the  action,  nor  that  this  suit  was  to  be 

[159] 


THE      LEVER 


brought  to  trial.  And  you  are  to  swear  to  this,  do 
you  understand?" 

Buckner  whistled  suggestively.  "  What's  the  finan 
cial  proposition?" 

"  Five  thousand  dollars  if  I  use  it ;  five  hundred  if  I 
don't." 

"  Suppose  Jennings  turns  up  with  those  letters. 
There's  a  penalty  for  that,  isn't  there?" 

"  We'll  take  good  care  that  Jennings  doesn't  turn 
up,"  Levy  assured  him,  "  and  we  would  be  taking  all 
the  risk." 

It  was  Buckner's  turn  to  become  absorbed,  and  this 
time  it  was  Levy  who  refilled  his  glass. 

"  It  would  be  a  lot  of  money,"  he  muttered  to  himself, 
as  he  nervously  gulped  the  brandy  down,  "  and  it  would 
hit  her  hard.  Go  ahead,  Levy.  Draw  up  your  damned 
paper  and  I'll  sign  it.  Never  knew  I  was  so  popular, 
anyhow." 

Levy  left  him  for  a  few  moments  while  he  dictated 
the  affidavit,  returning  to  his  private  office  while  the 
stenographer  was  writing  out  her  notes. 

"  I  don't  suppose  you  know  anything  about  the  per 
sonal  affairs  of  Mrs.  Buckner-Gorham  which  would  be 
of  assistance  to  us  in  this  case,  do  you?" 

Buckner  thought  hard.  Ideas  came  slowly  to  him  in 
his  present  condition,  but  at  last  he  looked  up  with  an 
expression  which  interested  the  lawyer. 

"  She  thought  herself  too  good  for  me,"  he  muttered, 
"  but  there  is  something  I  should  like  to  have  her  ex 
plain,"  he  said. 

"And  what  is  that?"  Levy  asked,  quickly  jumping 
at  a  possible  clew. 

"  After  she  found  me  in  the  trail  she  disappeared 
[160] 


THE      LEVER 


for  two  weeks  before  she  returned  to  her  father's 
ranch,  and  I  should  like  to  know  where  she  spent 
that  time." 

"  Where  do  you  think  she  spent  it?" 

"  I  don't  know  for  sure,  but  there  are  people  who  say 
she  was  with  a  prospector  in  his  shack  four  or  five  miles 
from  my  ranch.  I  didn't  hear  about  it  until  afterward ; 
but,  anyhow,  there  was  a  man  rode  back  with  her  to  her 
father's  ranch  who  got  her  into  the  hospital  in  Denver 
after  she  found  her  father  was  dead.  She  thinks  she's 
better  than  I  am,  but,  just  the  same,  I'd  like  to  know 
who  that  man  was." 

Levy  quickly  made  a  few  notes.  "  I  think  I  may  be 
able  to  assist  you  in  gratifying  that  desire,"  he  re 
marked. 

The  next  day  after  receiving  the  message,  Covington 
again  found  himself  within  Levy's  dingy  offices,  and  this 
time  he  experienced  no  delay  in  being  conducted  to  the 
sanctum  in  the  rear,  where  he  found  the  lawyer  ready  to 
receive  him  with  a  genial  smile  and  a  cordiality  which  ex 
pressed  itself  in  the  briskness  with  which  he  rubbed  his 
hands  together. 

"  I  think  you  will  be  well  pleased  with  the  rapid  prog 
ress  of  our  investigations,"  Levy  began. 

"  I  judged  so  by  your  letter."  Covington  was  non 
committal. 

"  There  will  be  no  difficulty  in  having  the  divorce 
decree  granted  to  Mrs.  Buckner — now  Mrs.  Gorham — 
set  aside  whenever  you  say  the  word.  Here  is  the  af 
fidavit  of  Buckner  himself,  and  the  fellow  is  not  only 
willing  but  eager  to  push  the  case  through." 

Covington  took  the  document  in   his  hand  and   ex- 
ii  [1611 


THE      LEVER 


amined  it  carefully.     Then :  "  How  would  you  undertake 
to  do  it?"  he  asked. 

"  It  is  a  principle  of  our  firm  not  to  discuss  methods 
with  our  clients.  Results  are  what  count,  and  our  reputa 
tion  for  securing  these  is  perhaps  a  sufficient  guarantee 
that  my  statement  is  based  on  facts." 

"  Your  position  is  undoubtedly  fully  justified,"  Cov- 
ington  replied,  a  slight  expression  of  amusement  show 
ing  in  his  face.  "  We  hardly  need  to  discuss  that  phase 
of  it,  however,  as  this  is  probably  as  far  as  I  shall  ask 
you  to  go." 

"  Oh,  Mr.  Covington,  you  wouldn't  drop  a  nice  case 
like  this,  would  you  ?"  Levy  begged.  "  There  is  a  lot 
of  money  in  it  for  both  of  us." 

Covington  answered  him,  coldly :  "  I  believe  the  terms 
of  our  business  arrangement  were  clearly  understood  at 
the  beginning." 

"  Yes,  but  it  is  such  a  nice  case,"  Levy  still  pleaded. 
"  You  need  not  appear  in  it  at  all  if  you  don't  want  to. 
Mr.  Buckncr  can  become  the  plaintiff,  and  it  need  not 
cost  you  anything.  We  can  make  Mr.  Gorham  pay  all 
the  bills." 

"  That's  enough  of  that,"  was  the  sharp  reply. 
"  Now,  what  was  it  that  you  found  out  about  Mrs. 
Gorham's  early  history?" 

Levy  accepted  the  inevitable  with  equanimity,  con 
tenting  himself  with  a  gesture  which  expressed  more 
than  words. 

"  I  have  learned  that  after  her  child's  death  Mrs. 
Gorham,  then  Mrs.  Buckncr,  disappeared  for  a  period 
of  two  weeks,  during  which  time  she  is  alleged  to  have 
lived  in  a  prospector's  shack  alone  with  him.  Do  you 
catch  the  significance  ?" 

[162] 


THE     LEVER 


Covington  again  held  out  his  hand,  taking  the  second 
affidavit,  which  he  scrutinized  with  the  same  care  he  gave 
the  first. 

"  This  is  merely  the  unconfirmed  statement  of  a  prej 
udiced  party,"  he  remarked ;  "  it  is  of  no  value  unless 
you  could  prove  it." 

Levy  smiled.  "  My  dear  Mr.  Covington,  we  can  prove 
anything — that  is  our  business." 

"  Well  " — Covington  rose — "  you  seem  to  have  car 
ried  out  your  end  of  the  affair."  He  drew  a  roll  of  bills 
from  his  pocket.  "  Here  is  the  balance  due  you.  If  I 
decide  to  make  use  of  these  documents,  I  will  see  you 
again  and  make  a  trade.  Kindly  give  me  an  acknowl 
edgment  of  my  payment." 

Levy  held  up  a  hand  protestingly.  "  I  explained 
before  that  we  never  give  receipts — 

"  Oh,  yes ;  it  had  slipped  my  mind,"  Covington  ac 
quiesced. 

"  I  hope  to  see  you  again  soon,  Mr.  Covington,"  Levy 
said  in  parting.  "  It  is  a  nice  case,  such  a  nice  case." 

The  departing  client  gave  no  evidence  that  he  heard 
the  words,  but  after  pushing  his  way  to  the  street  he 
drew  a  long  breath,  which  might  have  indicated  relief 
after  sitting  in  the  close  office,  or  satisfaction  that  he 
held  in  his  possession  new  weapons  which  could  easily  be 
made  useful  in  case  of  need. 


XVI 


THE  mail-order  business  came  to  an  abrupt  end 
three  months  after  Alice  Gorham  became  its  head. 
This  in  no  way  reflected  upon  its  management,  but 
it  was  too  trifling  an  enterprise  for  the  Consolidated 
Companies  to  retain.  Covington  was  enthusiastic  in  his 
reports  to  Mr.  Gorham  regarding  Alice's  proficiency 
and  natural  ability  along  business  lines.  This  experience 
had  been  an  interesting  and  valuable  one  to  her,  he  ex 
plained,  but  would  it  not  accomplish  the  same  purpose 
and  be  better  for  Miss  Gorham — still,  of  course,  under 
his  guidance — to  take  personal  charge  of  her  own  prop 
erty  and  thus  become  thoroughly  familiar  with  the  vari 
ous  investments? 

Gorham  heartily  approved  of  Covington's  suggestion, 
and  so  did  Alice.  To  the  former  it  seemed  to  offer  a 
natural  vent  for  his  daughter's  desires ;  to  the  girl  it 
appeared  as  a  real  promotion.  It  was  not  necessary 
for  Covington  to  explain  to  his  chief  that  the  arrange 
ment  actually  went  into  effect  several  weeks  before  it 
was  submitted  to  him  for  his  approval,  nor  did  he  take 
any  credit  to  himself  for  the  handsome  profit  in  certain 
street  railways  stock,  which  netted  Alice  thirty  thousand 
dollars  as  a  result  of  her  first  investment.  In  fact,  he 
modestly  cautioned  his  pupil  to  say  nothing  about  it, 
on  the  ground  that  the  next  investment  might  show  a 

[164] 


THE      LEVER 


loss,  and  her  father  would  be  interested  only  in  final 
results. 

During  the  weeks  which  succeeded  the  merger  of  the 
New  York  street  railways,  Covington  was  more  assidu 
ous  than  ever  in  his  attentions  to  Alice,  yet,  even  with 
Allen's  jealous  suggestions,  the  girl  saw  in  them  nothing 
more  than  a  continuation  of  their  previous  relations.  His 
skill  in  manipulating  her  securities  increased  her  admi 
ration,  and  the  incredible  success  filled  her  with  joy. 
She  was  bursting  with  enthusiasm,  and  longed  for  an 
opportunity  to  share  her  happiness  at  least  with  Eleanor ; 
but  since  the  first  confidences  with  her,  she  had  become 
convinced  that  her  preceptor's  restrictions  included 
Eleanor  as  well. 

In  spite  of  the  care  with  which  he  selected  the  mo 
ment  and  the  words,  when  Covington  actually  declared 
himself  it  came  to  Alice  not  only  as  a  surprise,  but  as 
a  distinct  shock.  At  first  she  could  not  believe  him 
sincere,  but  he  succeeded  in  convincing  her  on  this  point. 
He  interpreted  her  long  silence  and  evident  surprise  as 
the  natural  expression  of  a  young  girl  face  to  face  with 
the  most  vital  problem  which  ever  comes  to  her.  As  a 
matter  of  fact,  had  Alice  analyzed  her  feelings,  the  com 
pound  would  have  proved  to  be  made  up  in  equal  parts 
of  gratification,  astonishment,  and  a  broken  idol.  She 
was  flattered  that  this  man  should  really  wish  to  marry 
her,  she  was  amazed  that  his  declaration  did  not  arouse 
in  her  all  those  sentimental  emotions  which  she  had  asso 
ciated  with  a  moment  such  as  this ;  and  she  instinctively 
felt  that  he  could  not  possibly  be  the  great  man  she  had 
considered  him,  to  desire  what  he  had  asked. 

"  I  thought  you  and  I  had  decided  that  T  was  to  be 
a  business  woman,"  Alice  said  at  last,  qucstioningly. 

[1051 


"  Only  for  the  time  being,"  Covington  smiled,  well 
satisfied.  "  That  is  all  right  as  a  pastime,  and  you  shall 
indulge  in  it  as  much  as  you  like,  but  Mrs.  John  Coving- 
ton  will  have  more  of  a  position  to  live  up  to  even  than 
Miss  Alice  Gorham." 

"  That's  just  it,"  she  said,  slowly.  "  It  doesn't  seem 
to  me  that  I  am  ready  to  assume  any  *  position,'  as  you 
call  it.  Until  you  and  daddy  gave  me  this  chance  to  do 
something  else  besides  dances  and  theatre-parties  and 
all  those  things  we  girls  fill  our  time  with,  I  was  drifting 
hopelessly.  This  tiny  bit  of  responsibility  has  been  just 
the  anchor  I  needed.  What  I  read  means  so  much  more 
to  me,  what  people  talk  about  is  of  increased  interest 
because  I  am  just  that  much  more  conversant  with  what 
is  going  on;  and  the  dances  and  the  theatre-parties  are 
lots  more  fun  too.  What  you  have  asked,  Mr.  Coving- 
ton,  is  enough  to  make  any  girl  feel  proud  and  happy, 
but — I  don't  believe  I'm  ready  yet  to  give  up  my  girl 
hood  now  when  I  am  enjoying  it  most." 

"  There  need  be  no  haste  in  your  decision,"  he  said, 
graciously. 

"  Needn't  there?  Then  you  will  give  me  a  long  time 
to  think  it  over?" 

"  Not  too  long,  I  hope,"  he  answered,  significantly. 

"  But,  truly,"  Alice's  pout  was  exceedingly  becoming, 
"  I  don't  want  to  be  married  at  all.  Why  should  I  when 
I  am  so  happy?" 

"  Isn't  that  an  unusual  position  for  a  young  girl  to 
take?" 

"  Perhaps  it's  because  I  am  young,"  she  admitted, 
smiling.  "  But  I  see  so  many — what  shall  I  call  them? — 
semi-detached  couples,  that  it  makes  me  wonder." 

"  Semi-detached?"  Covington  queried. 
[166] 


THE      LEVER 


"  Why,  yes,"  she  explained ;  "  you  know  what  I  mean : 
the  only  way  they  can  live  happily  together  is  to  live 
apart." 

"  You  are  not  very  complimentary  to  me." 

"  Oh,  please  !"  Alice  interrupted  quickly.  "  But  you've 
noticed  it,  haven't  you?" 

"  We  notice  many  things  which  do  not  require  per 
sonal  application.  In  the  present  instance  I  think  we 
possess  so  many  interests  in  common  that  our  marriage 
would  be  considered  an  ideal  one.  It  would  make  me 
very  happy." 

"  You  have  been  so  kind,"  Alice  said,  looking  at  him 
gratefully.  "  You  know  that  I  appreciate  it,  don't 
you?  But  I  had  no  idea — you  quite  took  my  breath 
away,  you  are  so  much  older  than  I  am,  and — " 

"Am  I  so  terribly  old?" 

"  Oh,  no ;  I  mean  it  is  I  who  am  so  terribly  young. 
I  never  felt  quite  so  young  before.  I  suppose  it  is  the 
surprise  of  it  all.  But  you  said  I  might  have  a  long 
time.  I  must  talk  with  daddy  and  Eleanor,  you  know. 
And  I  shall  think  it  all  over  most  carefully,  please  be 
lieve  me."  Alice  held  out  her  hand  cordially.  "  Will 
you  excuse  me  now — I  really  must  see  Eleanor." 

Covington  watched  the  girl  in  amazement  as  she  hasti 
ly  withdrew  her  hand  and  fled  from  the  room.  The  self- 
possessed  young  woman  whom  he  had  met  day  after  day 
had  vanished,  and  in  her  place  he  saw  the  youthful 
school-girl,  frightened  into  a  loss  of  self-control  by  the 
offer  of  marriage  he  had  just  tendered  her.  Yet  the 
whole  episode  amused  him  hugely.  He  smiled  as  he 
thought  of  his  wife-to-be — the  future  Mrs.  John  Cov 
ington — running  like  a  frightened  deer  from  the  first 
situation  which  took  her  by  surprise!  It  was  not  as 

[167] 


THE      LEVER 


he  had  pictured  it,  but  youth  is  a  malady  from  which 
one's  convalescence  is  ever  speedy,  and  he  could  enjoy 
it  while  it  lasted.  He  found  his  way  to  the  front  door 
unguidcd,  where  he  paused  for  a  moment  and  looked 
back,  as  if  expecting  to  sec  the  lithe  form  of  the  girl 
peering  over  the  banister;  but  no  sound  came  from 
the  floor  above,  and  the  staircase  was  vacant. 

"  An  amusing  little  minx,"  he  laughed  to  himself, 
as  he  passed  out  of  the  house. 

Alice  lost  no  time  in  seeking  Eleanor,  eager  to  pour 
into  her  sympathetic  ears  the  new  problem  which  had 
presented  itself.  Instead,  she  found  Patricia,  curled 
up  in  an  easy-chair,  rereading  her  Knights  of  the  Round 
Table  with  renewed  interest.  She  bent  over  to  kiss  her, 
but  the  child  drew  away. 

"  I  don't  love  you  any  more,"  she  announced. 

"You  don't!"  asked  Alice,  taken  by  surprise. 

"No;  you're  so  mean  to  Allen." 

The  girl  laughed.  "  Don't  be  silly,  Pat.  Why,  Al 
len  is  only  a  kid,  like  you.  Where's  mamma  Eleanor?" 

"  Lying  down  in  her  room ;  but  he  isn't  a  kid — he's 
my  Knight." 

"  All  right ;  you  may  have  him,"  Alice  answered, 
lightly,  turning  toward  the  door. 

"  Alice !" 

The  older  girl  turned.     "  Well?"  she  interrogated. 

"  Is  Mr.  Covington  a  cat  ?" 

"What  do  you  mean?" 

"  Allen  said  to  me  the  other  day,  *  Listen  to  him 
purr.' ' 

"  Allen  ought  to  have  his  ears  boxed." 

"  No,  he  oughtn't  " — but  the  door  had  slammed,  and 
Patricia  was  alone  with  her  Knights. 

[1681 


THE     LEVER 


Alice  tiptoed  into  Mrs.  Gorham's  room,  then  started 
to  withdraw  as  Eleanor  appeared  to  be  asleep,  but  the 
older  woman  stopped  her. 

"  Come  in,  dear,"  she  said ;  "  I  am  only  resting." 

"Are  you  ill?"  the  girl  asked,  anxiously,  all  thought 
of  her  errand  vanishing ;  "  you  were  looking  very  tired 
at  breakfast." 

"  I  did  not  sleep  last  night,"  she  replied,  rising  wearily 
from  the  bed,  and  pressing  her  hands  against  her  tem 
ples  as  she  sat  down.  "  I  am  so  perplexed  that  I  don't 
know  which  way  to  turn.  I  wonder  if  you  could  advise 
me,  Alice?" 

"  If  only  I  could  be  of  help  to  you !"  the  girl  ex 
claimed,  drawing  another  chair  close  to  Eleanor's,  and 
taking  both  her  hands  in  her  own. 

Eleanor  made  no  reply  for  several  moments.  "  I  don't 
know  what  to  do,"  she  said  simply  at  last.  "  I  want 
to  have  my  life  an  open  book  to  your  father,  yet  in 
this  one  instance  I  can't  see  my  way  clear." 

"  Why,  Eleanor !"  cried  the  girl,  surprised,  "  how  can 
that  be  possible?" 

"  I  don't  wonder  you  ask ;  that  is  the  question  I  have 
set  myself  to  answer.  I  saw  Ralph  Buckner  yesterday 
as  I  was  driving  up  Fifth  Avenue,  and  the  sight  of 
him  filled  me  with  apprehension." 

"  Your  first  husband — in  New  York  ?"  Alice  asked, 
surprised. 

"  Yes — what  can  he  be  doing  here  ?" 

"  You  don't  know  that  it  has  anything  to  do  with 
you,  do  you?" 

"  No ;  but  I  am  so  apprehensive  that  I  imagine  every 
thing." 

"  But  the  past  is  dead,  Eleanor  dear.  To  have  it 
[169] 


THE      LEVER 


recalled  is  of  course  painful,  but  why  should  you 
dread  it?" 

Mrs.  Gorham  did  not  answer  at  once,  and  the  girl 
was  amazed  to  witness  the  conflict  of  emotion  which  her 
face  expressed.  At  last  Eleanor  raised  her  eyes. 

"  The  past  is  not  wholly  dead,"  she  said,  in  a  low  voice. 
"  That  is  the  unfortunate  part.  There  is  one  event 
which  happened  back  there  in  Colorado,  right  after 
Carina  was  killed,  which  has  never — can  never  be  ex 
plained.  It  is  the  only  detail  of  that  awful  tragedy 
which  I  have  not  told  your  father,  and  I  could  not  even 
tell  you." 

"  Can't  you  tell  me  enough  so  I  can  really  help 
you,  Eleanor?" 

"  No,  not  even  as  much  as  that.  The  appearances 
were  all  against  me.  I  know  that  nothing  occurred  of 
which  I  need  feel  ashamed,  but  the  circumstantial  evi 
dence  is  so  strong  that  it  would  be  beyond  human  pos 
sibility  to  expect  any  one,  even  one  as  generous  as  your 
father,  to  accept  my  unsupported  statement." 

"  Has  this  to  do  with  your  first  husband?" 

"  I  fear  that  if  he  has  come  in  possession  of  the  facts 
he  may  intend  to  use  them  against  me." 

"  Then  the  only  thing  for  you  to  do  is  to  see  father 
at  once,  and  to  tell  him  everything  yourself  before  that 
horrid  man  has  the  opportunity.  There  is  nothing, 
Eleanor,  which  you  could  tell  him  which  he  would  not 
accept  exactly  as  you  stated.  Why,  of  course  there 
isn't." 

"  I  wish  I  had  your  confidence,  dear,"  Eleanor  sighed, 
"  but  that  would  he  asking  too  much." 

"  Was  Mr.  Buckncr  concerned  in  it?" 

"  No;  it  was  another  man — the  only  other  man  I  ever 
[170] 


THE      LEVER 


met  except  your  father  whom  I  would  include  among 
God's  noblemen." 

"  Some  one  you  loved,  Eleanor?"  the  girl  asked,  hesi 
tatingly. 

"  No,  dear,  not  that !"  she  cried,  hastily.  "  I  was  in 
no  condition  at  that  time  to  love  any  one.  It  was,  as 
I  told  you,  right  after  Carina's  death.  He  was  the 
friend  who  protected  me  and  who  helped  me  at  that 
time — I  told  you  about  it — but  who  would  believe  that 
it  was  simply  an  act  of  humanity?" 

"  Father  would  believe  it,  Eleanor,"  the  girl  cried, 
firmly.  "  You  must  tell  him,  and  you  must  tell  him 
now — now — he  is  in  the  library." 

"  Oh,  I  cannot !"  cried  Eleanor,  shrinking ;  "  Robert 
is  so  much  to  me  that  I  cannot  run  the  risk  of  having 
even  a  doubt  disturb  the  perfect  understanding  that  has 
always  existed  between  us." 

"  You  must,  Eleanor,"  insisted  Alice,  rising  and  urg 
ing  Mrs.  Gorham  to  her  feet.  "  You  must — shall  I  go 
with  you?" 

"  No,  dear,"  Eleanor  replied.  "  I  will  go  " ;  and  with 
slow  footsteps  she  left  the  room. 

Gorham  was  well  satisfied  with  the  successful  formation 
of  the  Manhattan  Traction  Company,  as  he  was  also 
with  the  general  progress  of  the  Consolidated  Companies. 
Its  expansion  and  success  were  phenomenal,  and  it  was, 
of  a  certainty,  coming  into  its  own.  The  volume  of 
business  had  quadrupled ;  its  list  of  stockholders  was 
nearly  complete,  and  already  included  a  sufficient  pro 
portion  of  those  who  controlled  the  world's  pulse  to  make 
the  acquisition  of  the  others  certain  ;  its  political  strength, 
exercised  under  his  firm  hand  for  peace  always,  even  now 

[1711 


THE      LEVER 


exceeded   any   similarly   exerted   power  the  world  had 
known. 

It  was  natural  that  Gorham  should  be  filled  with  a  cer 
tain  sense  of  satisfaction  that  his  work  was  bearing 
such  magnificent  fruit.  One  by  one  the  necessities  of 
life  were  being  given  to  the  public  at  a  lower  cost;  one 
by  one  the  luxuries,  which  had  previously  been  denied 
them,  were  being  brought  within  their  reach.  Wars 
had  been  prevented  and  taxation  reduced.  Everywhere 
the  Consolidated  Companies  was  looked  upon  as  the 
people's  friend,  and  those  connected  with  it  as  public 
benefactors.  And  yet — the  profits  were  increasing  so 
rapidly  that  before  long  they  bade  fair  to  defy  human 
computation ! 

For  the  first  time  since  he  began  his  work  of  forming 
the  corporation  Gorham  gave  himself  up  to  day-dreams. 
Sitting  back  in  an  easy-chair  in  his  library  he  watched 
the  smoke  curl  upward  from  his  cigar,  and  gave  his 
mind  free  rein.  With  the  momentum  now  acquired, 
nothing  could  stem  the  triumphal  advance.  The  busi 
ness  scope  had  extended  nearly  as  far  as  he  would  let 
it  go — he  would  confine  it  to  public  utilities  and  public 
necessities.  In  the  future,  it  might  break  beyond  the 
confines  he  had  set  for  it,  and  even  become  the  single 
employer  of  all  labor,  but  for  his  own  time  he  would 
keep  it  within  his  limitations,  so  that  he  might  devote 
his  thought  and  energy  to  the  development  of  its  po 
litical  power.  Why  should  he  not  eventually  succeed 
even  in  forcing  a  disarmament  of  nations,  relieving  the 
people  of  their  most  grievous  burden,  and  insuring 
peace  by  the  absolute  control  the  Companies  was  cer 
tain  to  acquire  of  foodstuffs  and  the  munitions  of  war? 
Then,  indeed,  his  life  would  not  have  been  in  vain ! 

[172] 


THE     LEVER 


His  day-dreams  and  his  thoughts  were  interrupted  by 
finding  his  wife  at  his  side.  She  had  entered  so  quietly 
that  he  had  not  heard  her  footstep,  and  he  gave  a 
gentle  start  when  he  felt  her  hand  upon  his  forehead. 

"  Yes,  dear,  I  am  dreaming,"  he  said,  in  answer  to 
her  unspoken  question.  "  You  don't  often  see  me  this 
way,  do  you?  The  world  never  looked  so  bright  as  it 
does  to-day.  The  Consolidated  Companies,  the  child 
of  your  conception  and  my  creation,  has  reached  the 
zenith  of  its  power.  It  may  grow  larger,  but  even 
now  nothing  can  resist  it." 

"  The  world  never  looked  so  bright  as  it  does  to 
day,"  Eleanor  repeated  to  herself,  sitting  on  the  arm 
of  his  chair,  thrilled  by  the  message  of  love  which  this 
man  sent  out  to  her  through  the  pressure  of  his  hand 
on  hers  which  he  held  so  closely.  Should  she  be  the 
one  to  disturb  the  supreme  serenity  of  his  thoughts  at 
this  moment  by  a  suggestion  of  something  which  per 
haps  was  only  the  figment  of  an  over-anxious  brain? 
Inside  the  battle  waged,  but  he  could  not  see  her  face, 
so  was  ignorant  of  the  conflict.  If  her  hand  trembled 
within  his  own  he  did  not  notice  it.  She  looked  down 
at  the  profile  so  clearly  outlined.  What  strength,  what 
sweetness,  what  contentment!  To-morrow  she  would 
tell  him,  but  not  to-day.  This  moment  was  hers,  and 
no  past  memory  had  the  right  to  take  it  from  her! 


XVII 


THE  strain  under  which  Gorham  had  been  work 
ing  for  the  past  five  years  was  beginning  to  show 
itself,  and,  acting  upon  his  doctor's  advice,  he 
decided  to  take  a  brief  respite  from  the  cares  and  re 
sponsibilities  of  the  office.  He  did  not  think  it  neces 
sary  to  leave  New  York,  as  the  reaction  was  not  as  yet 
strong  enough  to  require  any  radical  treatment.  A 
fortnight  spent  quietly  at  his  home  in  the  midst  of 
congenial  surroundings  would  be  entirely  sufficient. 
During  this  time  he  denied  himself  to  business  callers, 
simply  keeping  in  touch  with  affairs  by  means  of  his 
daily  reports,  which  formed  so  strong  a  feature  of  his 
business  system. 

"  They  make  the  yesterdays  into  a  whip  of  many 
lashes  to  urge  to-day  on  to  still  greater  speed,"  Gorham 
once  explained.  "  They  change  the  president  of  the 
Consolidated  Companies  from  an  absentee  employer  into 
an  ubiquitous  superintendent." 

Because  of  Mr.  Gorham's  desire  for  retirement,  the 
butler  endeavored  to  explain  the  impossibility  of  an  in 
terview  to  a  tall,  smooth-faced  young  man  who  pre 
sented  his  card  one  afternoon.  The  caller's  slight  figure 
was  clad  in  a  black  whip-cord  suit,  and  over  his  arm 
was  thrown  a  neatly  folded  tan  overcoat.  His  silk  hat 
carried  a  broad  mourning  band,  and  his  hands  were 

[174] 


THE      LEVER 


encased  in  black  kid  gloves.  Gorham's  would-be  visitor 
did  not  present  the  most  cheerful  appearance,  but  the 
insistence  with  which  he  emphasized  the  important  na 
ture  of  his  business  succeeded  in  effecting  his  entrance 
to  the  hallway,  where  he  was  left  until  the  butler  could 
fortify  himself  behind  the  faithful  Riley's  invaluable 
advice. 

Riley  looked  at  the  printed  visiting-card,  gave  a 
violent  start,  and  then  quickly  closed  his  hand  over  it. 
A  penetrating  glance  disclosed  the  fact  that  the  name 
had  conveyed  no  special  information  to  his  companion, 
so  he  hastily  assumed  the  responsibility  of  handling  the 
situation,  and  hurried  to  the  hall.  Giving  the  visitor 
no  opportunity  to  speak,  Riley  placed  his  hand  gently 
upon  his  arm,  and  addressed  him  beseechingly. 

"  Jimmie,  me  la-ad,"  the  old  man  said,  "  is  it  raly 
yersel'  come  ter  see  ye'er  ol'  fa-ather?  I  can't  belave 
it,  indade  I  can't;  but  'tain't  this  we  must  be  talkin' 
about  now.  I  know  it's  th'  great  man  ye  are,  but  ye 
wuddent  queer  ye'er  fa-ather  by  comin'  ter  th'  front 
dure,  wud  ye?  Come  now,  Misther  Robert  ain't  heard 
about  it  yit,  so  it's  all  right,  Jimmie — we'll  go  down 
stairs  an'  have  a  nice  little  visit.  It's  proud  I  am  ter 
have  ye  call  on  me,  but  ye  mustn't  come  ter  th'  front 
dure,  Jimmie — ye  mustn't  do  that." 

Riley's  anxiety  to  get  his  son  down-stairs  and  into 
his  own  domain  blinded  him  to  the  straightness  of  Jim- 
mie's  back  and  the  severe  lines  in  his  face.  With  all  the 
dignity  at  his  command  the  visitor  assumed  a  position 
which  perhaps  he  had  learned  during  his  career  as  an 
orator : 

"  You  are  my  father,  and  an  old  man,"  he  replied, 
with  rare  condescension,  "  so  I  will  be  gentle  with  you. 

[175] 


THE      LEVER 


I  didn't  call  to  see  you,  Mr.  Riley — I  have  important 
business  with  Mr.  Gorham." 

Riley  drew  back,  indecision  mingled  with  a  father's 
pride  that  a  son  of  his  could  carry  himself  with  such 
an  air. 

"  That's  phwat  brought  ye  here,  is  it  ? — business  wid 
Misther  Robert — ye !"  he  repeated.  "  Ah,  Jimmie,  I 
can't  belave  it,  me  la-ad.  Are  ye  shure?" 

"  Is  it  his  father  who  doubts  the  word  of  James 
Riley?"  the  younger  man  replied,  and  Riley  thought 
he  discerned  a  touch  of  sorrow  in  the  unnatural  tone  of 
voice. 

"  But  Misther  Robert  ain't  doin'  no  business  these 
days,  Jimmie.  It's  th'  vacation  he's  havin'." 

"  This  is  personal  business,  Mr.  Riley,  and  it's  to 
his  own  interest  to  see  me.  I  can  be  of  service  to  Mr. 
Gorham." 

"Ye  can  be  iv  service  ter  Misther  Robert,  Jimmie?" 
The  old  man's  face  beamed  with  pride.  "  Ah,  Jimmie, 
it's  proud  I  am  iv  ye!  Me  own  la-ad  iv  service  ter 
Misther  Robert !  I'll  spake  ter  him  at  wance." 

As  Riley  drew  back  to  admire  his  son,  his  eye  fell 
upon  the  silk  hat  and  the  black  gloves. 

"  Who's  dead,  Jimmie?"  he  asked,  with  real  concern — 
"  why  do  ye  wear  th'  sorry  rag  on  ye'er  hat  an'  th'  ravens 
on  ye'er  hands?" 

"  No  one  you  know,"  James  replied,  carelessly  flick 
ing  a  speck  from  his  overcoat  sleeve.  "  The  city  sup 
plied  them  for  the  committee  what  went  to  Moriarty's 
funeral  last  month." 

"  Oh !"  Riley  wavered  between  his  relief  and  his  sense 
of  duty  to  acquaint  his  son  with  the  proper  usage  of 
the  articles  in  question.  Discretion  finally  prevailed, 

[176] 


THE      LEVER 


and  he  went  up-stairs  to  impress  Mr.  Gorham  with  the 
importance  of  Jimmie's  errand. 

James  Riley  had  acted  upon  a  sudden  impulse  in 
making  his  call  upon  Mr.  Gorham.  He  had  unexpected 
ly  gained  possession  of  certain  information  which  he 
felt  might  be  of  commercial  value  to  himself,  and  be 
yond  this  it  offered  him  an  opportunity  to  come  in  close 
contact  with  a  famous  man.  With  his  eye  always  open 
to  the  main  chance,  James  felt  that  this  first  meeting 
with  Mr.  Gorham,  since  he  himself  had  come  into  his 
own,  might  lead  to  something  worth  while. 

Even  Gorham  was  conscious  of  the  satisfaction  ex 
pressed  in  the  old  man's  voice  as  he  opened  the 
library  door  for  his  famous  offspring  and  announced 
"  Misther  James  Riley,"  dwelling  noticeably  upon  the 
prefix. 

"  I  am  glad  to  see  you,  James,"  Gorham  greeted 
him  cordially.  "  Your  father  has  kept  me  posted  from 
time  to  time  of  your  successes,  and  I  congratulate  you 
both." 

Praise  from  the  president  of  the  Consolidated  Com 
panies  was  nectar  to  James  Riley,  and  with  an  effort 
to  appear  indifferent  he  suffered  himself  to  sit  down. 

"  Your  father  tells  me  you  have  personal  business 
with  me,"  Gorham  continued,  noting  the  difficulty  James 
experienced  in  getting  under  way. 

The  caller  would  not  have  admitted  it,  even  to  him 
self,  but  the  effect  of  being  actually  in  the  presence 
of  this  man  of  world-wide  fame,  and  in  the  midst  of  such 
palatial  surroundings,  was  to  deprive  him  of  his  usual 
easy  flow  of  words.  Gorham's  remark,  however,  as 
\\as  intended,  served  to  relieve  him,  but  the  oratorical 
prelude  which  he  had  carefully  rehearsed  coming  up 
12  [177] 


THE      LEVER 


on  the  electric  'bus  had  vanished  from  his  mind,  and  he 
plunged,  as  had  still  another  "  gentleman  "  before  him, 
in  mcdlas  res. 

"  There's  a  feller  in  town  what  means  to  make  trouble 
for  you,"  he  announced,  bluntly,  looking  up  from  his 
study  of  the  pattern  in  the  rug  to  note  the  effect  of 
his  announcement  upon  his  host. 

Gorham  laughed.  "  I  have  an  idea  that  there  is  more 
than  one  '  feller  '  in  town  who  would  be  glad  to  do  that 
if  he  found  the  chance." 

"  That  may  be,  sir,"  James  assented,  "  but  this  feller 
has  come  a  long  bit  out  of  his  way  to  do  it,  and  I  don't 
think  it's  on  the  level,  sir." 

u  It  is  very  good  of  you  to  come  and  tell  me  this, 
James,"  Gorham  said,  lightly ;  "  but  I  presume  our 
secret  service  force  already  have  the  gentleman  on  their 
list." 

"  Oh,  he  ain't  no  gentleman,"  James  corrected  him, 
"  and  it  ain't  got  nothin'  to  do  with  business,  sir,  so 
I  thought  I'd  call  on  you  as  a  friend  and  tell  you 
what  I  know." 

"  What  else  can  it  have  to  do  with?"  queried  Gorham, 
incredulously,  yet  humoring  James  for  his  father's 
sake. 

"  With  Mrs.  Gorham,  sir — leastwise,  that's  what  he 
says." 

Gorham's  apathy  disappeared,  but  his  visitor  observed 
no  change  in  the  calmness  of  his  expression  or  in  the 
quiet  tone  in  which  he  spoke. 

"  You  surprise  me,  James.  What  sort  of  man 
is  he?" 

"  He's  a  blackguard,  sir,  and  a  liar.  I'd  have  told 
him  so,  only  he  was  drunk,  and  I  thought  he  might 

[178] 


THE      LEVER 


leak  something  what  would  be  of  interest  to  you.  He 
says  he  used  to  be  Mrs.  Gorham's  husband." 

The  lines  deepened  a  little  in  Gorham's  face.  "  What 
is  his  name?"  he  asked. 

"  Buckner,  sir — Ralph  Buckner." 

"  H'm !  And  why  do  you  think  he  intends  to  try 
to  make  trouble  for  me?" 

"  Well,  sir,  you  see  it's  this  way.  This  feller  come 
to  the  same  boardin'-house  where  I  live,  but  I  didn't 
pay  no  attention  to  him  'til  I  see  him  playin'  pool  in 
the  saloon  opposite.  I'm  a  Tammany  man,  sir,  and  I 
has  to  mix  with  all  the  new  ones  what  come  into  my 
ward.  I  got  acquainted  with  him  over  there,  and  he 
drank  awful  heavy.  He's  quiet  enough  when  he's  sober, 
but  he  talks  free  and  easy  like  when  he  gets  tanked. 
One  night  he  says  to  me,  '  I'm  goin'  to  make  a  lot  o' 
money.' ' 

"  '  Good !'  says  I,  more  to  be  agreeable  than  because  I 
had  any  'special  interest — '  how're  you  goin'  to  do  it?' 

"  Then  he  laughed,  silly-like,  and  winked  at  me.  I 
didn't  say  no  more,  but  the  next  night  he  talked 
again. 

"  '  What  do  you  think,'  he  says ;  '  I  see  my  wife  to 
day  ridin'  up  Fifth  Avenue  behind  the  swellest  pair  o' 
horses  in  New  York  City.  No  wonder  she  shook  me 
for  that.' 

"  '  What  do  you  mean  ?'  says  I,  surprised  at  his  line 
o'  talk. 

"  '  She's  Mrs.  Robert  Gorham  now,'  says  he,  '  but  per 
haps  she  won't  be  long.' 

"  Then  I  laughed  at  him,  and  that  made  him  mad. 

"  '  That's  right,'  says  lie.  '  There're  people  here  in 
this  town  who  tell  me  that  her  divorce  from  me  warn't 

[179] 


THE      LEVER 


reg'lar,  and  I  may  be  takin'  the  lady  back  to  New  Or 
leans  with  me,  and  a  heap  o'  money  besides.' 

"  O'  course,  all  this  don't  mean  nothin'  to  me,  but  I 
thought  it  might  to  you,  sir." 

Mr.  Gorham  did  not  reply  for  so  long  a  time  that 
James  became  anxious. 

"  I  hope  I  done  right,  sir,  to  come  to  you  with  this." 

"  Yes,  James ;  quite  right.  You  arc  evidently  influ 
enced  by  your  loyalty  to  my  family,"  Gorham  answered. 
"  It  is  right  that  you  should  be,  but  it  shall  not  be  for 
gotten.  There  probably  is  nothing  in  all  this,  but,  since 
Mrs.  Gorham's  name  was  mentioned,  I  should  like  to 
get  to  the  bottom  of  it.  I  shall  depend  upon  you  to 
keep  me  posted." 

"  I  will,  sir,"  James  responded,  eagerly.  "  I'll  do  that 
as  long  as  he  stays  in  New  York,  but  he  says  they're 
trying  to  get  him  to  go  back  to  New  Orleans." 

"Who  are  'they'?" 

"  I  don't  know,  sir." 

"  That  is  the  first  thing  to  discover,  James.  I  shall 
trust  you  to  do  it." 

Gorham  rose,  and  James,  vastly  satisfied  with  himself, 
followed  the  suggestion. 

"  I'll  do  it  for  you,  sir,"  he  said  at  the  door.  "  You 
can  depend  on  me  for  that." 

"  Thank  you,  James ;  and  in  the  mean  time  it  will 
be  prudent  for  you  to  keep  your  information  to  your 
self." 

"  Yes,  sir ;  I'll  do  that,  sir.  Any  one  with  a  Tammany 
Hall  education  knows  how  to  do  that,  sir." 

Rilcy  was  anxiously  awaiting  the  close  of  the  inter 
view,  and  eagerly  accompanied  his  son  to  the  front  door. 
Before  he  opened  it,  the  old  man  turned  inquiringly. 

[180] 


THE     LEVER 


"  Ain't  ye  goin'  tcr  tell  me  phwat  it's  all  about, 
Jimmie?" 

"  It's  too  delicate  a  situation  to  discuss  with  the 
servants,"  James  replied,  freezingly.  "  Me  and  Mr. 
Gorham  understands  each  other,  that's  all." 

Riley  gazed  with  still  greater  admiration  at  the 
straight  figure  which  passed  by  him,  out  of  the  house, 
and  up  the  gravel  walk  to  the  street. 

"  Jimmie  's  th'  great  man,"  he  muttered  to  himself 
as  he  closed  the  door — "  he's  th'  great  man,  mixin'  wid 
men  like  Misther  Robert;  but  he  hadn't  oughter  wear 
that  sorry  rag  an'  th'  ravens,  wid  me,  his  only  livin' 
relation,  still  livin'." 

The  bell  rang  almost  immediately,  and  Riley,  certain 
that  James  had  returned,  hastened  to  throw  the  door 
open.  As  he  did  so,  he  discovered  Allen  Sanford. 

"  Who's  that  undertaker  person?"  Allen  demanded. 

Riley  straightened  perceptibly.  "  'Tis  me  son  James, 
Misther  Sanford,  an'  it's  th'  great  man  he  is,  an'  no 
undertaker." 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  Riley,"  Allen  laughed,  noting 
the  old  man's  injured  dignity.  "  Of  course  I  should 
have  known ;  but  I  may  want  to  employ  an  undertaker 
soon,  so  I  suppose  I  had  it  on  my  mind." 

"  Ain't  ye  falin'  well,  Misther  Allen  ?"  Riley  asked, 
anxiously. 

"  Oh,  I  don't  want  him  for  myself,"  Allen  laughed 
again.  "  Is  Miss  Alice  in?" 

"  How  do  I  know  'til  she  tells  me,  sor?" 

"All  right;  you'll  have  to  ask  her  then,  won't  you? 
If  she  is  in,  tell  her  that  I've  called  to  have  tea  with  her." 

Alice  was  in  particularly  high  spirits.  She  had  di 
gested  Covington's  proposal,  and  found  that  she  enjoyed 

[1811 


THE      LEVER 


it.  She  was  still  waiting  for  a  chance  to  discuss  it  with 
Eleanor  and  her  father,  but  she  experienced  an  unex 
pected  amount  of  pleasure  in  thinking  it  over  by  her 
self.  She  had  already  decided  that  she  would  take  plenty 
of  time  before  she  gave  her  answer.  The  sensation 
was  so  exhilarating  that  she  was  unwilling  to  short 
en  its  duration.  It  was  all  so  incredible  that  she — little 
she — should  have  attracted  a  man  of  Mr.  Covington's 
calibre  to  the  extent  that  he  should  actually  want  to 
marry  her !  And  now  Allen  had  called,  giving  her  an 
outlet  for  this  unusual  buoyancy. 

Her  caller  was  not,  blind  to  the  excitement  which 
showed  in  Alice's  face,  and  the  formalities  were  scarcely 
over  before  he  asked  the  question  which  brought  a  vio 
lent  color  to  the  girl's  checks. 

"  So  it's  come,  has  it — just  as  I  said  it  would?" 

"  What  has  come?"  Alice  busied  herself  with  the  tea 
cups  which  the  butler  had  already  placed  on  the  little 
table  in  front  of  her,  and  appeared  to  be  mystified, 
though  she  knew  well  what  he  meant. 

"  That  doesn't  surprise  me  any,"  Allen  continued, 
"  but  I  really  didn't  think  it  would  set  you  up  so  much 
when  it  did  strike." 

"  I  suppose  you  are  enjoying  this  monologue,"  she 
replied.  "  Don't  mind  me  if  it  gives  you  any  pleasure." 

"  Look  here,  Alice  "  — he  became  desperate — "  why 
can't  we  talk  it  over  without  having  to  jump  all  these 
high  hurdles?  I  know  you  don't  care  anything  about  me, 
and  you  know  that  I  can't  see  anything  in  life  worth 
while  except  you,  so  the  situation  is  clear  on  both  sides. 
But  I  can't  let  that  four-flusher  pull  the  wool  over  your 
eyes  without  saying,  '  Beware  of  the  dog.'  I  shouldn't 
be  a  man  if  I  did." 

[182] 


THE     LEVER 


"  You  take  advantage  of  our  friendship,"  she  said, 
severely ;  "  but  there  arc  limits  beyond  which  even  an 
old  friend  cannot  go,  and  you've  reached  them.  Mr. 
Covington  is  a  friend  too ;  I  don't  admit  that  he  is  more 
than  this,  but  I  sha'n't  let  you  say  unfair  things  about 
him  any  more  than  I  should  listen  to  similar  things 
about  you.  Come  now,  let's  drop  the  subject.  How 
many  lumps  will  you  have?" 

"  Two  lumps,  and — no  lemon,  please." 

"  You  sa}'-  you  wouldn't  be  a  man  if  you  didn't  warn 
me,"  the  girl  went  on ;  "  but  it  is  because  you  are  not 
that  you  talk  as  you  do.  You  find  me  agreeable,  and, 
boy-like,  think  you  want  to  marry  me.  Pat  thinks  she 
wants  to  marry  you — you  are  both  children,  and  both 
behave  the  same." 

Allen  put  his  cup  down  on  the  table  untasted.  "  Is 
there  no  way  I  can  convince  you  that  I've  grown  up?" 
he  demanded. 

"  Yes ;  drop  all  this  nonsense  about  me,  and  make 
yourself  a  place  in  the  world  as  Mr.  Covington  has  done." 

"  Never!"  he  almost  shouted.  "  You  don't  know  how 
he's  made  his  place,  or  you  wouldn't  say  that.  Do  you 
want  me  to  climb  up  by  stepping  all  over  those  who 
have  helped  me,  to  play  double  with  every  one  I  meet, 
to  crisscross  even  on  the  man  who  trusts  me  most,  and 
finally  try  to  cinch  my  position  by  marrying  his  daugh 
ter?  If  that's  your  idea  of  being  a  man,  I'll  tell  you 
right  now,  not  for  mine." 

Alice  rose,  with  flaming  face.  "  I  told  you  that  you 
had  reached  the  limit,  Allen — now  you  have  passed  it. 
Oh !  why  did  I  let  you  go  on !  I  like  you  so  much, 
and  I  want  to  sec  you  succeed.  I've  tried  to  help  you 
all  I  could,  and  this  is  the  result.  Now;  we  can't  even 

[183] 


THE      LEVER 


be  friends  any  more,  and  this  insane  jealousy  of  yours 
will  spoil  your  chances  in  the  Companies.  Oh,  Allen, 
Allen — why  can't  you  grow  up  and  be  sensible !" 

"  Don't  worry  about  me,"  the  boy  said,  dejectedly. 
"  You're  probably  right,  just  as  the  pater  was  probably 
right.  I'm  no  good  anyhow.  I  didn't  want  to  go  into 
diplomacy  because  there  seemed  to  be  so  much  in  it  which 
was  double-dealing.  Now  I'm  in  business,  and  I  see 
the  same  things  there.  It's  all  my  fault — it  must  be ; 
but  I'm  in  wrong  somehow.  I  wouldn't  say  a  word, 
Alice,  if  it  were  some  one  else,  but  Covington — well, 
you've  told  me  to  cut  that  out,  so  I  will.  But  don't 
say  we  can't  be  friends — I  couldn't  stand  that.  You'll 
need  me  some  time,  little  girl,  and  when  you  do,  I  want 
to  be  Johnny  on  the  spot." 

Alice  never  found  it  possible  to  be  angry  with  him 
for  any  extended  period.  Always  after  his  impulsive 
outbreaks  he  became  so  contrite  that  the  early  dis 
pleasure  was  abated  by  his  unspoken  but  evident  desire 
for  forgiveness. 

"  Will  you  take  back  what  you  said  about  Mr.  Cov 
ington?"  she  asked. 

"  I  can't  do  that,"  he  replied,  firmly ;  "  but  I'll  do 
my  best  to  let  you  find  him  out  from  some  one  else." 

And  the  girl  let  him  leave  it  there,  remaining  in  the 
same  position  several  minutes  after  he  had  gone,  won 
dering  that  she  had  been  willing  to  permit  so  gross  a 
slander  to  stand  unchallenged.  When  at  last  she  turned 
slowly  toward  the  door,  she  started  violently  as  some 
thing  began  to  untangle  itself  from  the  portieres. 

"  It's  only  me,"  announced  Patricia,  ungrammatically, 
but  none  the  less  undauntedly. 

"What  have  you  been  doing  there?"  the  elder  sister 
[1841 


THE     LEVER 


demanded,  her  momentary  fright  making  her  indigna 
tion  even  greater. 

"  Listcnin',"  replied  the  culprit,  shamelessly. 

"  Patricia  Gorham !"  For  Alice  to  use  the  child's 
full  name  conveyed  the  absolute  limit  of  reproach,  but 
Patricia  stood  her  ground  fearlessly. 

"  I'm  not  ashamed — I've  simply  got  to  know  my  fu 
ture.  You'll  stick  to  what  you  said,  won't  you,  Alice?" 

"  You  ought  to  be  punished !" 

"But  you  won't  marry  Allen,  will  you?"  Pat  plead 
ed,  unblushingly.  "  You  can  have  Mr.  Covington  and 
I  will  have  Allen,  and  we  all  will  be  happy  ever  after 
ward." 

"  Oh,  you — kids,  that's  what  you  both  are !"  Alice 
cried  in  sheer  desperation.  "  Between  you,  I  can't  get 
a  moment's  peace." 

"  He  would  make  a  lovely  Knight."  Patricia's  face 
assumed  an  enraptured  expression.  "  Oh,  I  wish  I  was 
a  damosel,  with  a  vessel  of  gold  between  my  hands,  and 
Allen  was  Sir  Launcclot,  and  I  would  say,  '  Wit  ye  well,' 
and  he  would  kneel  and  say  his  prayers  to  me,  and — 
Alice,  what  does  '  Wit  ye  well '  mean,  anyhow?" 

But  Alice  had  fled,  leaving  Patricia  the  victrix  of  her 
bloodless  battle-field. 


XVIII 


JAMES  RILF.Y'S  information,  while  causing  Gor- 
liam  some  concern,  was  not  the  matter  which  gave 
him  the  greatest  anxiety  during  the  days  he  passed 
away  from  his  office.  The  fact  that  Buckner  was  in 
town  was  not  altogether  surprising,  and  his  maudlin 
comments  need  not  necessarily  be  seriously  considered. 
In  addition  to  the  commission  he  intrusted  to  young 
Kiley,  Gorham  also  set  in  motion  the  wheels  of  his  own 
secret-service  department,  feeling  confident  that  he  would 
soon  learn  all  the  facts.  The  conduct  of  the  current 
business  of  the  Companies,  complex  as  it  had  now  be 
come,  appeared  to  be  advancing  steadily  along  the  lines 
which  he  himself  had  laid  down  for  it,  and  he  saw  no 
reason  to  think  that  his  temporary  absence  was  causing 
the  slightest  disarrangement  of  the  delicately  adjusted 
machine  upon  which  depended  the  continued  momentum 
of  the  business.  This  interested  him  particularly,  as 
he  considered  that  the  crowning  point  of  his  successful 
formation  of  the  Consolidated  Companies  would  not  be 
attained  until  his  actual  contact  with  the  business  was 
not  required. 

But  great  enterprises  do  not  expand  themselves  with 
out  the  jealous  watchfulness  of  other  competing  or  in 
terested  organizations,  and  Gorham's  daily  reports  con 
tained  an  increasing  number  of  references  to  the  efforts 

[180] 


THE      LEVER 


being  made  by  these  to  harass  the  Consolidated  Com 
panies  with  governmental  interference.  Senator  Ken- 
more  had  by  this  time  become  the  chief  spokesman  of 
the  Companies  in  Washington.  Since  his  first  exhaustive 
examination  into  its  affairs,  his  doubts  as  to  the  possi 
bility  of  conducting  so  mammoth  a  consolidation  along 
conscientious  lines  had  been  dissipated  by  the  abso  ute 
straightness  of  the  course  which  Gorham  steered,  /{is 
influence  had  been  exerted  frequently  in  behalf  of  the 
Companies,  and  each  time  the  success  which  thus  came 
to  the  corporation  carried  in  its  wake  advantages  to  the 
people,  just  as  Gorham  had  promised.  The  Senator 
had  become  one  of  Gorham's  stanchcst  admirers  and 
supporters,  and  the  president  of  the  Consolidated  Com 
panies  in  turn  relied  fully  upon  him.  For  several 
weeks  Kenmore's  correspondence  had  suggested  certain 
unrest  in  the  Senate  concerning  trusts  and  consolidations, 
so  when  Gorham  received  from  him  an  urgent  summons 
to  come  to  Washington  at  once,  it  left  no  room  for  doubt 
as  to  the  necessity  which  prompted  its  sending,  and 
obliged  him  for  the  present  to  abandon  his  idea  of  rest. 

Gorham  found  Kcnmore  awaiting  him  in  his  office, 
and  the  Senator,  with  characteristic  directness,  came  to 
the  point  at  once. 

"  Some  one  is  starting  up  another  scare  on  monopolies 
and  combinations,  and  is  making  the  Consolidated  Com 
panies  the  target.  Do  you  know  anything  about  it?" 

"  Docs  it  come  from  New  York  State?"  Gorham 
asked. 

"  Yes;  the  junior  senator  is  at  the  head  of  it." 

"  He  is  a  Tammany  man." 

"  Yes." 

"  Brady  made  him,  and  now  he  is  collecting  his  fee. 
[187] 


THE      LEVER 


The  Consolidated  Companies  hit  Brady  hard  in  the  Man 
hattan  Traction  deal,  you  remember.  How  much  head 
way  has  it  gained?" 

"  Enough  to  be  dangerous ;  that's  why  I  wrote  as 
I  did." 

"  It  can't  be  dangerous  while  we  have  the  people  so 
strongly  with  us,  but  it  might  become  troublesome. 
Whom  do  you  want  me  to  see?" 

"  The  President.  I  have  made  an  appointment  with 
him  half  an  hour  from  now.  The  Senator  from  New 
York  has  touched  him  a  bit  by  demanding  why  he  is 
haling  the  other  great  corporations  into  court,  and  leav 
ing  the  Consolidated  Companies  to  grow  larger  and 
stronger  without  opposition." 

"  Have  you  discussed  the  matter  with  the  President?" 

"  No ;  I  thought  it  best  to  let  you  present  it  as  a 
whole.  Come — we  shall  find  him  ready  for  us." 

The  President  received  his  callers  in  his  office.  He 
was  a  great  President,  and  as  such  realized,  as  some 
of  his  predecessors  had  not,  that  the  country  of  which 
he  was  the  chief  executive  was  constantly  outgrowing 
the  legislation  which  had  been  wise  at  the  time  of  its 
enactment.  He  realized  that  as  expansion  comes  con 
ditions  change,  and  these  changed  conditions  necessitate 
the  exercise  of  a  far-seeing  and  a  far-reaching  judg 
ment  in  administering  the  law  in  its  spirit  rather  than 
always  in  its  letter;  but  the  experience  he  had  gained 
in  the  White  House  had  taught  him  the  difficulties  which 
beset  his  path  in  living  up  to  his  convictions.  Gorham 
had  been  frequently  called  to  his  councils  for  advice 
upon  various  subjects,  and  the  President  was  familiar 
with  the  Consolidated  Companies  in  conception  and  oper 
ation. 

[1H81 


THE     LEVER 


"  We  are  accused  of  discrimination,  Mr.  Gorham," 
the  President  explained,  after  the  first  greetings.  "  You 
and  I  have  discussed  the  Consolidated  Companies  upon 
various  occasions ;  I  have  watched  its  operations  care 
fully,  and  I  am  free  to  say  that  my  early  apprehen 
sions  have  thus  far  proved  groundless.  I  believe  that 
I  have  acted  conscientiously  in  pushing  the  investiga 
tions  and  prosecutions  against  those  combinations  which 
are  really  a  menace  to  the  country ;  but  there  are  some 
who  disagree  with  me,  and  flaunt  the  Consolidated  Com 
panies  in  my  face  as  an  evidence  of  insincerity  on  my 
part.  I  have  asked  you  and  Senator  Kenmore  to  meet 
me  here  this  afternoon,  to  talk  over  the  question  quite 
informally  with  the  senator  from  New  York  and  with 
the  Attorney-General." 

"  I  appreciate  the  opportunity,  Mr.  President,"  Gor 
ham  replied,  quietly. 

"  Then  we  are  all  ready  for  the  discussion,"  said  the 
President,  touching  a  button.  "  They  are  waiting — I 
will  send  for  them." 

Upon  the  arrival  of  the  others,  he  repeated  to  them 
what  he  had  said  to  Gorham,  and  then,  settling  back 
in  his  chair,  became  an  interested  listener,  leaving  Gor 
ham  and  the  senator  from  New  York  as  the  principal 
disputants,  with  Kenmore  and  the  Attorney-General 
joining  in  the  argument  from  time  to  time. 

"  Do  I  understand  that  Mr.  Gorham  speaks  for  the 
Administration  in  this  matter?"  asked  Senator  Hunt, 
with  some  asperity. 

"  I  speak  for  the  Consolidated  Companies,  and  for 
that  alone,"  Gorham  replied,  promptly. 

"  Then  you  will  perhaps  explain  why  your '  corpora 
tion,  the  largest  trust  in  existence  to-day,  is  immune, 

[189] 


THE      LEVER 


while  other  trusts  are  being  persecuted  to  the  extent  of 
the  Government's  power." 

"  I  am  not  authorized  to  answer  any  question  which 
has  to  do  with  the  Government,"  Gorham  continued ; 
"  but  it  may  be  that  it  is  due  to  the  same  reason  that 
some  of  the  '  other  trusts '  you  mention  are  not  as 
yet  incorporated  as  a  part  of  the  Consolidated  Com 
panies." 

"  Then  they  have  been  approached?"  the  Senator 
asked,  quickly. 

"  Several  of  them  have  approached  us ;  but  they  have 
thus  far  been  unwilling  to  accept  the  principles  upon 
which  the  Consolidated  Companies  is  founded." 

"  You  refer  to  its  alleged  benevolent  aspect  ?" 

"  Yes,  if  you  choose  to  call  it  that,"  Gorham  replied, 
smiling.  "  We  prefer  to  call  it  reciprocity.  If  we  re 
ceive  favors  in  the  form  of  concessions  from  the  people, 
we  believe  it  to  be  not  only  fair,  but  also  sound  busi 
ness,  to  use  these  concessions  not  to  bleed  them,  but  for 
their  benefit." 

"  In  other  words,  the  Consolidated  Companies  is  a 
good  trust,  and  the  others  are  bad  trusts  ?" 

"Exactly." 

"  The  Sherman  Act,  if  I  read  it  correctly,  makes  no 
distinction." 

"  But  the  Government  docs." 

"  And  to  that  extent  unlawfully  discriminates,"  the 
Senator  said,  emphatically. 

"  What  would  be  the  effect  upon  the  country  if  the 
Sherman  Act  were  enforced  literally?"  Gorham  asked. 

"  That  is  not  for  me  to  say." 

"  Perhaps  the  Attorney-General  will  give  us  his  opin 
ion,"  Gorham  persisted. 

[1901 


THE      LEVER 


The  Attorney-General  had  been  listening  to  the  dis 
cussion  with  much  interest. 

"  There  can  be  but  one  answer  to  that  question," 
he  replied ;  "  it  would  produce  an  industrial  reign  of 
terror,  and  yet  I  am  frank  to  say  that,  from  a  legal 
standpoint,  I  believe  Senator  Hunt  is  correct  in  his  state 
ment  that  the  Government  unlawfully  discriminates  in 
drawing  any  distinction  between  good  and  bad  trusts ; 
but  let  me  say  further,  that  it  is  my  definite  opinion 
that  the  Sherman  Act,  as  it  now  stands,  is  a  menace 
to  the  country.  That  Act,  literally  interpreted,  would 
break  up  every  trust  into  smaller  corporations.  It  is 
based  on  a  hasty  inference  that  great  consolidations  are 
of  necessity  monopolies.  Even  if  we  disintegrated  a 
great  corporation  like  the  Consolidated  Companies,  for 
instance,  into  a  large  number  of  smaller  corporations, 
we  should  not  have  solved  the  problem.  There  would 
always  be  methods  by  which  a  common  understanding 
could  be  reached,  and,  in  the  disintegration,  producing 
concerns  would  lose  much  of  the  efficiency  in  serving 
the  public  which  has  already  been  demonstrated  by  the 
Consolidated  Companies.  I  have  answered  your  question 
frankly,  giving  you  my  opinion  from  a  legal  and  also 
from  a  personal  standpoint." 

"  Was  there  not  a  time,"  Kcnmorc  asked,  "  when  the 
public  in  England  was  as  much  afraid  of  the  formation 
of  business  partnerships  as  our  public  has  been  afraid 
of  trusts?" 

"  Yes,"  the  Attorney-General  replied ;  "  our  own  trust 
legislation  is  nothing  more  than  a  modern  repetition  of 
certain  laws  which  centuries  ago  were  in  force  in  Eng 
land,  and  were  designed  to  prevent  the  formation  of 
co-partnerships  in  business." 


THE      LEVER 


"  Yet  partnerships  were  formed  in  spite  of  the  law, 
were  they  not?"  insisted  Kcninore,  "and  it  was  discov 
ered  that  the  prices  of  goods  did  not  go  up." 

"  We  arc  digressing,"  the  senator  from  New  York 
interrupted.  "  As  I  understand  it,  wo  are  concerned 
with  the  present  rather  than  the  past." 

"  I  am  glad  }rou  realize  that,"  Gorham  responded, 
"  for  it  has  a  considerable  bearing  upon  the  situation. 
In  the  past,  the  public  has  been  opposed  to  the  organi 
zation  of  industry,  and  properly  so,  since  it  has  meant 
the  secret  rebates,  the  limiting  of  output,  the  '  fake  ' 
independent  companies,  and  the  stealing  of  competitors' 
secrets;  but  to-day  there  is  a  changed  public  sentiment, 
and  perhaps  I  may  be  pardoned  if  I  say  that  I  believe 
the  Consolidated  Companies  has  played  its  part  in  bring 
ing  this  about.  The  magazines  have  turned  from 
muckraking  to  articles  instructing  their  readers  in 
finance;  the  anti-trust  orator  is  speaking  to  empty  scats; 
and  intelligent  lawmakers,  who  once  considered  *  corpo 
ration  '  as  a  synonym  for  '  crime,'  now  carefully  distin 
guish  between  the  honest  and  the  dishonest  organiza 
tion.  The  Administration  is  elected  by  the  people  to 
exercise  the  will  of  the  people,  and  it  is  the  will  of  the 
people  to-day  that  honest  combinations  be  permitted, 
in  order  to  reduce  the  cost  of  the  necessities  of  life." 

"  It  is  a  conflict  between  a  literal  interpretation  of 
the  law  and  industrial  progress,"  added  Senator  Ken- 
more,  "  and  the  law  as  it  stands  does  not  appeal  to 
justice  nor  does  it  express  American  public  sentiment. 
Bigness,  in  commerce  and  industry,  has  now  come  to  be 
associated  with  progress.  Production  on  a  large  scale 
is  justified  by  its  economy  and  efficiency  when  brought 
about  through  the  free  play  of  economic  forces.  It 

[192] 


THE     LEVER 


would  be  just  as  ridiculous  to  oppose  the  ever-increasing 
demand   for  machinery." 

"  To  what  point  is  all  this  leading  us  ?"  asked  Sena 
tor  Hunt,  impatiently.  "  These  one-sided  arguments 
may  be  interesting  to  those  who  agree  with  them,  but 
my  question  still  remains  unanswered:  why  does  not 
the  Government  enforce  the  law  equally  against  one 
offender  as  against  another,  since  by  that  law  both  are 
offenders  ?" 

"  Senator  Kenmore,  the  Attorney-General,  and  I  have 
endeavored  to  answer  your  question  to  the  best  of  our 
ability,"  Gorham  replied,  "  and  I,  for  one,  regret  to  have 
failed  in  my  endeavor.  We  all  agree,  I  am  sure,  that 
the  Government  has  a  plain  duty  to  perform,  but  we 
do  not  understand  that  duty  to  be  the  prevention  of 
honest  and  beneficial  combination.  The  Consolidated 
Companies  has  led  the  way  in  seeking  publicity  and 
preserving  equality,  and  in  insuring  public  participa 
tion  in  the  benefits  accruing  from  the  combinations  which 
it  effects.  If  other  trusts  do  likewise,  I  have  no  doubt 
that  they  will  be  as  4  immune '  as  you  have  been  pleased 
to  call  the  Consolidated  Companies." 

"  Are  you  prepared  to  deny  that,  in  spite  of  this 
'  benevolent '  aspect  of  which  you  boast,  the  profits  of 
your  corporation  are  greater  than  those  of  any  trust 
in  the  world?" 

"  I  have  never  made  the  comparative  analysis  which 
would  be  required  to  answer  your  question,"  Gorham 
replied ;  "  but  I  do  say  without  fear  of  contradiction 
that  no  organization  ever  gave  back  to  the  people  so 
large  a  percentage  of  its  earnings.  It  may  interest 
Senator  Hunt  if  I  outline  the  principles  upon  which  the 
Consolidated  Companies  was  conceived." 
13  [193] 


THE      LEVER 


Gorham's  voice  was  a  strong  asset.  Its  low,  clear 
tones  carried  without  apparent  effort,  and  there  was  a 
firmness  and  sincerity  in  every  spoken  word  which  always 
secured  attentive  hearing. 

"  The  public,"  he  said,  "  has  long  since  become  ac 
customed  to  mergers  and  consolidations,  and  has  natu 
rally  associated  with  them  the  strangling  of  competition 
and  the  creation  and  enjoyment,  on  the  part  of  a  few, 
of  the  conditions  of  monopoly.  But  business  exploits 
such  as  these  are,  in  a  measure,  things  of  the  past,  and 
cannot  be  repeated.  Great  industries  can  no  longer  hem 
in  their  rivals,  or  stifle  and  cripple  them  to  the  extent 
that  fields,  which  by  natural  law  are  free  to  all,  become 
the  field  of  one.  The  people  have  at  last  risen  against 
this,  and  consolidations  will  only  be  tolerated  when  con 
fidence  is  established  that  the  masses  will  be  benefited. 
When  the  scheme  of  the  Consolidated  Companies  first 
became  known,  it  was  bitterly  opposed  by  the  public, 
who  saw  in  it  nothing  other  than  a  new  and  more  gigan 
tic  octopus,  to  feed  upon  its  very  life-blood. 

"  From  the  very  beginning,  both  from  principle  and 
from  what  I  consider  to  be  sound  business  sense,  I  have 
endeavored  by  word  and  act  to  convince  the  public  that 
the  Consolidated  Companies  intended  to  serve  its  best 
interests,  and  our  unprecedented  success  is  the  best  evi 
dence  I  could  offer  that  I  have,  at  least  in  part,  succeed 
ed.  Our  stockholders  are  men  in  high  positions  of  trust, 
and  they  cannot  continue  to  deliver  contracts  to  us 
unless  we  make  good  our  promises  to  execute  those  con 
cessions  to  the  advantage  of  the  people.  To-day,  wher 
ever  the  Consolidated  Companies  is  known,  the  public 
looks  with  approval  upon  favors  shown  us  by  its  officials, 
and  this  in  itself  is  an  asset  to  our  corporation  of  un- 

[194] 


THE      LEVER 


told  value.  Bread,  coffee,  and  other  daily  necessities 
are  now  obtainable  cheaper  than  ever  before  in  the  his 
tory  of  the  world,  because  the  Consolidated  Companies 
has  made  them  so.  Transportation  charges,  wherever 
we  have  obtained  the  franchises,  have  been  reduced 
twenty  per  cent. ;  lighting  costs,  both  gas  and  electric, 
are  fifteen  per  cent,  cheaper  in  those  cities  which  we 
control;  government  loans  placed  through  us  are  from 
one  to  two  per  cent,  lower,  thus  substantially  reducing 
the  rate  of  taxation.  We  have  prevented  war  in  at 
least  two  instances,  and  thus  demonstrated  the  possi 
bilities  of  our  power  in  preserving  universal  peace.  For 
the  Government  to  interfere  with  our  work  because 
of  a  technicality  would  result  in  an  international  ca 
lamity." 

"  Are  you  now  speaking  for  the  Administration,  Mr. 
Gorham?" 

"  Now,  I  am  speaking  as  a  private  citizen." 
"  If  the  Attorney-General  agrees  with  me,"  added  the 
President,  joining  in  the  discussion  for  the  first  time, 
"  I  think  I  may  say  that  Mr.  Gorham's  views  as  a  pri 
vate  citizen  are  shared  by  the  Administration;  on  the 
other  hand,  I  agree  with  the  Attorney-General  in  the 
position  which  he  takes  regarding  the  conflict  between 
the  legal  and  practical  bearing  of  the  Sherman  Act. 
There  is  only  one  way  to  solve  the  problem,  and  that 
is  to  modify  that  Act  so  that  a  distinction  can  be  made 
between  those  consolidations  which  advance  the  country's 
prosperity,  and  those  which  are  operated  solely  for  per 
sonal  gain  to  the  detriment  of  all  except  the  few  direct 
ly  interested.  You  may  report  back  to  your  constitu 
ents,  Senator  Hunt,  that  the  Administration  will  re 
frain  from  further  action  in  this  matter  for  the  present, 


THE      LEVER 


and  will  direct  its  efforts  toward  securing  amendments 
to  the  Sherman  Act  which  shall  make  it  possible  to 
draw  a  distinction  between  good  and  bad  trusts,  as  you 
call  them,  without  discrimination." 

The  President  rose,  signifying  that  the  conference 
was  ended,  and  Gorham  left  the  White  House  in  com 
pany  with  Senator  Kenmore  and  the  Attorney-General. 
The  latter  wore  a  serious  expression  upon  his  face. 

"  The  President  took  the  only  logical  position,"  he 
remarked  to  his  companions ;  "  but  I  tell  you,  gentle 
men,  that  there  is  not  the  slightest  possibility  of  pass 
ing  any  bill  through  either  house  which  can  accomplish 
the  results  we  all  desire." 

"  In  another  twelve  months,"  observed  Gorham, 
"  granting  that  the  Companies  continues  to  make  his 
tory  as  it  has,  the  people  themselves  will  prevent  their 
representatives  from  interfering." 

"  Provided  nothing  occurs  to  raise  a  doubt  as  to  the 
integrity  of  the  Companies'  motives,"  added  the  Attor 
ney-General,  suggestively. 

"  How  could  such  a  doubt  be  raised  ?"  Gorham  was 
incredulous. 

"  By  having  some  official  in  your  corporation  act  in 
defiance  of  the  principles  which  you  have  upheld." 

"  We  have  a  five-years'  record  to  fall  back  upon." 

"  Yes ;  but  as  the  Companies  grows  larger  the  risk 
increases." 

"  And  the  careful  surveillance  increases  in  like  ratio." 

"  There  are  human  limitations,  Mr.  Gorham,"  laugh 
ed  the  Attorney-General. 


XIX 


AXEN  SANFORD,  during  the  next  few  weeks, 
found  much  to  think  about  besides  himself.  His 
advance  had  been  more  rapid  than  Gorham  had 
expected.  His  position  with  the  Companies  was  still 
the  same,  but  his  value  in  his  position  had  steadily  in 
creased.  The  impetuosity  and  intensity  which,  previ 
ously  uncontrolled,  had  made  him  heedless,  were  now 
directed  through  a  smaller  vent,  and  gained  in  power. 
Gorham's  early  belief  that  the  boy  possessed  in  no  small 
degree,  though  undeveloped,  the  business  genius  which 
had  accomplished  his  father's  great  success,  was  being 
definitely  confirmed,  and  he  rejoiced  in  it. 

Allen  had  studied  the  business  problem  with  which 
he  came  daily  in  contact  as  closely  as  he  could  with  the 
little  experience  which  had  as  yet  come  to  him.  What 
man  of  affairs  does  not  recall  how  intangible  was  that 
turning-point,  in  his  own  early  business  career,  before 
which  he  felt  hopelessly  submerged  in  that  sea  of  in 
finite  detail,  vainly  struggling  to  gauge  its  currents  and 
to  escape  its  undertow;  after  which  he  found  himself 
advancing  with  steady  strides,  short  at  first,  but  gain 
ing  in  power  as  the  lesser  responsibilities  merged  into 
greater  ones! 

Gorham's  business  training,  previous  to  the  inception 
of  the  Consolidated  Companies,  had  been  in  accord 

[197] 


THE      LEVER 


with  the  universal  business  code,  quite  at  variance  with 
the  idealistic  basis  which  he  himself  had  now  established. 
Allen's  training  had  all  been  along  Gorham's  idealistic 
thread.  It  was  perhaps  natural,  therefore,  that  Allen, 
under  these  circumstances,  should  look  upon  the  trans 
actions  of  the  Consolidated  Companies  from  a  different 
viewpoint  from  that  which  Mr.  Gorham  took.  At  all 
events,  some  of  these  business  acts  did  not  seem  to  the 
boy  to  be  in  full  accord  with  the  altruism  which  he  had 
learned  from  his  preceptor.  Allen  had  come  to  know 
most  of  the  directors  and  some  of  the  stockholders,  and 
he  was  convinced  that  the  prevailing  instinct  which  con 
trolled  their  relations  to  the  Consolidated  Companies 
and  to  its  transactions  was  self-interest  pure  and  sim 
ple.  There  was  no  question  that  the  Companies  had 
accomplished  important  reductions  in  the  necessities  of 
life  and  in  the  cost  of  public  utilities,  as  a  result  of 
which  the  people  were  radically  benefited ;  but  to  Allen's 
untrained  mind  even  this  seemed  to  be  a  clever  business 
policy  from  the  exercise  of  which  the  corporation  gained 
more  than  it  gave.  Already  there  had  come  to  him 
a  sense  of  apprehension  as  to  what  might  happen  if 
Mr.  Gorham's  restraining  hand  should  lose  its  present 
power,  and  the  control  should  fall  into  the  hands  of 
men  such  as  he  conceived  Covington  and  his  sympa 
thizers  to  be ;  and  lately  the  boy  had  regarded  this  chance 
as  not  altogether  remote. 

Gorham  never  allowed  Allen  to  discuss  with  him  the 
personalities  of  any  of  the  directors  or  stockholders  with 
whom  he  came  in  contact.  This  was  partly  due  to  his 
feeling  that  Allen  was  not  as  yet  competent  to  form  opin 
ions  of  any  value,  and  partly  to  his  general  principle 
that  he  must  hold  his  own  mind  unprejudiced  in  his  duty 

[198] 


THE      LEVER 


toward  his  associates.  For  this  reason,  and  for  another 
which  lay  closer  to  his  heart,  the  boy  had  never  ex 
pressed  to  him  his  distrust  of  Covington,  though  he  had 
been  tempted  to  do  so  on  more  than  one  occasion.  Now, 
however,  during  the  absence  of  his  chief  from  the  of 
fices,  Allen  felt  sure  that  a  crisis  was  near  at  hand. 
He  knew  that  Covington  was  in  constant  communica 
tion  with  certain  of  the  directors,  and  the  nature  of 
these  conferences  could  perhaps  be  divined  by  the  grow 
ing  discontent  which  he  saw  developing  among  those 
upon  whom  he  knew  Gorham  depended  as  his  most  val 
ued  lieutenants.  He  had  been  brooding  over  matters 
so  long  that  this  new  and  tenser  situation,  as  he  saw  it, 
made  him  feel  it  to  be  his  duty  to  talk  it  over  with  Gor 
ham.  He  was  none  too  sure  that  his  doubts  would  be 
shared  or  even  accepted,  and  this  uncertainty  added  to 
his  apprehensiveness  in  breaking  over  what  he  knew  to 
be  his  chief's  implied  commands.  This  was  his  first 
experience  in  a  business  office,  and  it  might  be  that  what 
caused  him  anxiety  was  only  a  part  of  the  day's  work, 
to  be  found  in  any  similar  establishment.  Still,  he  de 
termined  to  free  his  mind  of  its  ever-present  burden, 
and  he  selected  the  time  shortly  after  Gorham's  return 
from  Washington. 

Gorham  listened  to  Allen's  reports  well  into  the  night. 
The  boy  did  most  of  the  talking,  and  Gorham  absorbed 
with  little  comment  the  story  which  he  had  to  tell.  Al 
len  was  surprised  and  relieved  to  find  that  he  listened 
to  him  without  criticism,  and  it  strengthened  him  in 
his  own  confidence  to  find  that  the  elder  man  treated 
him  with  a  consideration  beyond  that  which  he  had 
previously  received. 

"  You  are  quite  right  to  come  to  me  with  this," 
[199] 


THE      LEVER 


Gorham  said  at  length ;  "  but  I  feel  that,  as  far  as  the 
business  is  concerned,  you  are  unduly  apprehensive.  I 
shall  satisfy  myself  on  this  point  on  my  return  to  the 
office.  Now,  as  to  Mr.  Covington:  I  have  been  aware 
for  weeks  of  your  personal  dislike  for  each  other,  but 
it  is  unworthy  of  you,  Allen,  to  allow  this  to  influence 
you  to  the  extent  of  doing  him  so  great  an  injustice." 

Allen  colored  deeply  at  the  criticism.  "  I  have  waited 
until  I  am  certain  that  it  is  no  injustice  before  bringing 
the  matter  to  you,"  he  said. 

"  I  have  also  been  aware  of  another  fact,"  Gorham 
continued,  "  which  is  in  itself  an  explanation  of  your 
present  attitude.  When  I  tell  you  that  it  is  my  fondest 
hope  that  Alice  shall  marry  Mr.  Covington,  you  will 
understand.  This  in  itself  is  the  strongest  evidence  I 
could  give  of  my  confidence  in  him." 

This  was  a  blow  far  greater  than  any  Alice  had 
dealt  him.  Allen  had  never  lost  hope  that  sooner  or 
later  he  could  convince  her  that  he  had  attained  man's 
estate,  and  this  he  considered  the  only  real  barrier  be 
tween  them.  But  if  Mr.  Gorham  had  set  his  heart  upon 
her  marriage  to  Covington,  he  knew  the  case  was  hope 
less.  The  older  man  watched  him  as  he  struggled  with 
himself. 

"  You  should  have  no  thought  at  present  of  marrying 
any  one,"  he  said,  kindly.  "  You  are  not  mature  enough 
yet  to  know  your  own  mind.  You  have  done  well,  and 
I  have  great  hopes  for  your  future,  but  for  the  present 
you  must  be  content  to  solve  one  day's  problems  before 
taking  up  the  next." 

"  I  wouldn't  mind  so  much  about  Alice,"  the  boy 
finally  managed  to  blurt  out,  "  if  it  was  any  one  except 
Mr.  Covington." 

[  200  1 


THE     LEVER 


"  Have  you  any  actual  evidence  that  he  is  other  than 
an  upright,  able  man,  whose  character  entitles  him  to 
the  fullest  confidence  and  esteem?" 

"  No  actual  evidence ;  but  I  know  I'm  right.  Please 
don't  let  him  have  Alice  without  making  sure." 

Gorham  placed  his  hand  kindly  upon  the  boy's  shoul 
der.  "  Your  interest  in  my  little  girl's  happiness,  though 
prejudiced,  makes  me  overlook  this  boyish  jealousy 
toward  a  man  whom  I  respect.  But  you  can't  think 
that  my  carefulness  in  so  important  a  matter  as  this 
would  be  any  less  than  your  own.  Come,  now,  let  us 
forget  all  this.  Go  back  to  your  duties,  my  boy,  with 
a  confidence  that  my  judgment  is  better  than  yours." 

As  Allen  made  no  reply  and  showed  no  inclination 
to  leave,  Gorham  wondered  if  he  had  still  anything 
further  to  say.  The  boy  moved  uncomfortably  in  his 
chair  as  the  question  was  asked. 

"  Not  regarding  the  business  detail,  Mr.  Gorham," 
he  replied  at  length.  "  Oh,  I  am  all  at  sea !"  he  burst 
out  suddenly,  his  voice  trembling  with  emotion.  "  I 
guess  business  isn't  in  my  line  anyhow." 

"What  do  you  mean,  Allen?"  Gorham  asked,  com 
pletely  surprised  by  the  boy's  intensity. 

"  If  I  tell  you  what  I  really  mean  you  will  think  I 
am  ungrateful  for  the  chance  you  have  given  me,  and, 
truly,  that  isn't  it.  I  know  you  feel  that  the  Consoli 
dated  Companies  is  accomplishing  a  great  work,  and 
you're  right;  but  there's  another  side  which  I  don't  like 
at  all.  With  the  single  exception  of  yourself,  I  don't 
believe  there  is  a  man  connected  with  it  who  isn't  in  it 
for  what  he  can  get  out  of  it.  The  public  is  being  bene 
fited  by  certain  reductions  which  the  Companies  accom 
plishes,  but  before  long  I'm  sure  they  will  have  to  pay 

[201  ] 


THE      LEVER 


up  for  all  they  have  saved,  with  a  bitter  interest.  Of 
course,  my  feeling  this  way  is  simply  an  evidence  that 
I  don't  understand  things  at  all." 

Allen  had  touched  upon  Gorham's  most  sensitive  point. 
"  It  is  a  deep  disappointment  to  me  that  you  feel  as 
you  do,"  he  replied.  "  As  you  say,  it  is  an  evidence 
that  you  don't  understand  things  at  all.  The  Consoli 
dated  Companies  has  almost  reached  a  point  where  in 
dividual  personality  is  merely  incidental;  where,  in  my 
opinion,  my  own  services  even  will  not  long  be  essential. 
1  like  to  believe  that  my  continued  connection  strength 
ens  and  guides  it,  but  no  one  man  can  now  affect  its 
progress  to  any  serious  degree ;  but,  my  boy,  loyalty 
to  the  Companies  on  the  part  of  its  employees  is  abso 
lutely  imperative.  That  I  must  demand  of  you." 

Allen  winced  under  the  criticism,  but  he  could  not 
withdraw  from  his  position. 

"  Could  not  a  man  like  Mr.  Covington  change  the 
entire  policy  of  the  Companies  if  he  came  into  con 
trol?"  he  asked,  significantly. 

"  No,"  Gorham  replied,  firmly.  "  In  the  first  place, 
if  he  gained  control,  he  would  have  no  desire  to  change 
it ;  in  the  second,  my  Executive  Committee  is  made  up 
of  men  of  too  high  principle  to  permit  him  or  any 
other  man  to  operate  the  Companies  upon  other  than 
a  proper  basis." 

"  You  may  not  feel  so  sure  of  this  after  you  have 
investigated,"  Allen  insisted. 

"  I  shall  never  alter  my  opinion."  Gorham  was  an 
noyed  by  the  boy's  persistence.  "  It  is  too  late  to-night 
to  discuss  this  phase  of  the  subject  with  you  as  thor 
oughly  as  we  must  if  you  are  to  continue  with  the 
corporation,  but  in  the  mean  time  remember  that  the 

[2021 


THE     LEVER 


Consolidated  Companies  is  in  the  hands  of  men  whose 
self-interest  is  coupled  with  a  personal  gratification  in 
the  altruistic  basis  whose  nature  you  have  learned  from 
me.  You  are  not  competent  to  pass  upon  their  motives, 
and  until  you  are  you  should  not  venture  to  criticise." 

"  I  admitted  that  it  is  all  due  to  my  inexperience, 
Mr.  Gorham,  and  I  am  sorry  that  you  are  angry.  I 
believe  in  you  as  I  could  never  believe  in  any  other 
man,  and  I  know  that,  as  far  as  you  can  control  it, 
you  will  keep  the  Consolidated  Companies  within  the 
lines  you  have  laid  down ;  but  I  can't  make  myself  be 
lieve  that  the  others  have  the  same  honorable  intentions." 

"  Stop !"  cried  Gorham,  seriously  aroused  by  the  boy's 
words.  u  I  shall  listen  to  you  no  further.  It  is  only 
my  friendship  for  your  father  and  my  affection  for  you 
which  keeps  me  from  speaking  harshly  to  you ;  but 
be  warned !  You  are  attempting  to  interfere  in  a  mat 
ter  which  is  too  heavy  for  your  strength.  Leave  it 
to  those  who  understand  it." 

After  Allen  left  the  house  Gorham  sat  for  a  long  time 
in  his  library,  smoking  and  meditating.  Yet  it  was  not 
the  possible  internal  business  complications,  as  suggested 
by  the  boy,  which  occupied  his  thoughts ;  it  was  not 
some  new  gigantic  transaction  about  to  be  launched  on 
behalf  of  the  Companies  which  filled  his  mind,  nor  was 
it  the  suggested  danger  to  Eleanor's  peace  of  mind.  He 
was  thinking  of  Allen,  half  blaming  himself  for  the 
forlorn  expression  the  boy's  face  had  worn  as  he  left 
the  room.  It  was  a  courageous  tiling  for  this  youngster 
to  rush  in  where  older  and  more  experienced  men  would 
not  have  dared,  to  face  Robert  Gorham  and  to  tell  him 
that  the  monument  he  had  erected  rested  upon  a  base 
of  shifting  sand.  His  absurd  statements  regarding 

[203] 


THE      LEVER 


Covington  were  easily  explained,  but  what  he  had  said 
of  the  business  was  an  honest  expression,  even  though 
groundless  in  fact  and  resulting  from  an  inexperienced 
interpretation  of  matters  far  beyond  his  present  knowl 
edge. 

Gorham  contrasted  in  his  mind  the  changes  which 
these  few  months  had  wrought  in  him.  He  remembered 
how  lightly  the  boy  had  taken  his  father's  tirade  which 
had  thrown  him  upon  his  own  resources,  and  compared 
this  with  the  depressing  effect  which  his  own  criticism 
had  produced. 

"  Poor  boy,  I'm  really  sorry  for  him,"  he  said  to  him 
self.  "  With  old  Stephen  on  one  side  and  with  me  on 
the  other,  and  with  his  fancied  devotion  to  Alice  on  top 
of  it  all,  he  must  feel  that  the  world  is  against  him." 
Then  Gorham's  face  became  stern  again.  "  But  he  must 
take  on  ballast,"  he  said,  firmly ;  "  he  must  get  over 
these  snap- judgments  and  learn  to  recognize  that  he 
is  playing  with  tools  too  heavy  for  him  to  handle.  It 
will  do  him  good — but  I  love  the  boy  for  his  courage. 
It  will  land  him  somewhere  if  he  keeps  his  head." 


XX 


THE  days  passed  by  with  nothing  to  justify 
Eleanor's  apprehensions  resulting  from  Ralph 
Buckner's  presence  in  New  York,  so  her  fears 
vanished,  and  with  them  the  necessity  of  disturbing  her 
husband's  tranquillity  with  this  confidence  which  already 
had  been  so  long  postponed.  Gorham's  sudden  trip 
to  Washington  made  this  even  more  natural.  Alice  had 
told  her  of  Covington's  proposal,  and  was  eager  to  dis 
cuss  the  situation  from  every  possible  standpoint.  To 
the  older  woman  the  girl's  attitude  toward  Allen  seemed 
heartless,  yet,  knowing  her  husband's  feeling  in  the  mat 
ter,  she  decided  that  it  was  wiser  to  leave  the  young 
people  to  solve  their  own  problem.  Youth  is  ever  heart 
less  in  its  attitude  toward  others,  and  it  is  only  by  its 
own  suffering  that  it  learns  the  lesson  of  consideration. 
Eleanor  sought  to  impress  Alice  with  the  importance  of 
being  sure  of  her  own  heart  before  making  her  final 
decision,  and  encouraged  her  to  take  plenty  of  time.  She 
would  have  hesitated  to  do  this,  on  her  husband's  account, 
except  that  with  Allen  so  hopelessly  out  of  the  running 
the  delay  could  do  no  harm.  Alice  must  make  no  error, 
Eleanor  kept  repeating  to  herself,  recalling  with  pain 
ful  vividness  the  result  of  her  own  mistaken  act  of  duty. 
Covington  became  a  constant  visitor  at  the  Gorham 
home,  assuming  more  and  more  the  prerogatives  of  an 

[  205  ] 


THE      LEVER 


accepted  suitor.  His  attentions  were  assiduous  and  his 
companionship  was  so  agreeable  that  Alice  considered  the 
arrangement  ideal.  Each  time  he  urged  her  to  give  him 
a  definite  reply  she  begged  off  in  such  a  playful,  girlish 
fashion  that  Covington  mildly  acquiesced,  feeling  that 
each  day's  association  made  the  situation  that  much  more 
favorable  to  him.  And  this  courtship,  curious  as  it  was, 
proved  not  unpleasant  to  him.  Much  to  his  own  sur 
prise,  he  began  to  find  himself  really  fond  of  this  young 
girl,  who  kept  him  constantly  on  the  qui  vive  to  follow 
her  from  the  absurdity  of  girlish  conceits  to  the  opposite 
extreme  of  mature  discussion  of  subjects  ordinarily  far 
beyond  the  grasp  of  her  years.  It  whetted  his  interest 
and  possessed  a  decided  fascination  for  him,  he  admitted 
to  himself  more  than  once  as  he  left  the  house  to  return 
to  his  own  apartment,  wearing  a  satisfied  smile  of  patron 
izing  indulgence.  Had  it  not  been  for  the  business 
necessities,  and  the  importance  of  actually  becoming  her 
husband  before  anything  occurred  to  disturb  his  rela 
tions  with  Gorham,  he  would  have  preferred  to  have 
things  run  on  indefinitely  as  they  were. 

During  this  time  Allen  found  Covington's  attitude 
toward  him  completely  changed.  It  would  have  hurt 
the  older  man's  self-respect  to  admit  that  the  boy  could 
in  any  way  be  looked  upon  as  a  rival ;  but  young  girls 
are  uncertain  quantities,  and  it  had  been  necessary  for 
Alice  to  prove  that  she  was  beyond  this  danger-point 
before  Covington  decided  that  Allen  was  a  promising 
youngster,  after  all,  and,  as  Stephen  Sanford's  son,  en 
titled  at  least  to  being  noticed. 

Allen,  during  the  same  period,  and  perhaps  because 
of  the  same  conditions,  had  grown  to  regard  Covington 
with  even  more  cordial  aversion.  The  only  positive 

[  206  ] 


THE      LEVER 


grievance  he  had  against  him  was  the  success  he  had 
gained  with  Alice ;  but,  in  an  undefined  way,  he  felt  in 
stinctively  that  this  man  possessed  every  Machiavellian 
attribute  in  the  calendar  of  dishonor.  With  an  effort  to 
be  just,  Allen  mentally  made  a  generous  discount  to 
offset  any  possible  prejudice,  but  even  then  Covington 
measured  up  shockingly  bad.  If  Alice  had  insisted  on 
a  proof  of  the  statements  he  made  against  him  to  her, 
he  would  have  found  himself  lacking  ammunition;  when 
Gorham  had  asked  him  point-blank  what  evidence  he 
had  to  substantiate  his  accusations,  he  had  been  unable 
to  give  any,  and  this,  he  realized,  had  hurt  him  in  the 
eyes  of  his  chief. 

So  now  the  boy  proposed  to  collect  evidence,  with  the 
self-acknowledged  purpose  of  helping  Gorham  and  of 
saving  Alice,  entirely  overlooking  any  personal  interest 
in  the  undertaking.  Covington's  first  overtures  came 
just  at  this  time  and  were  coldly  received;  but  as  Allen 
considered  the  matter,  he  concluded  that  he  would  learn 
to  "  purr  "  too,  taking  lessons  in  this  gentle  art  from 
the  one  man  whom  he  acknowledged  to  be  its  past  master. 

Gorham  was  surprised  by  the  change  in  their  relations 
as  he  saw  it,  and  the  boy  at  once  rose  in  his  estimation. 
Allen  had  evidently  taken  to  heart  the  advice  given  him 
during  their  last  interview,  and  had  proved  himself  big 
enough  to  rise  above  his  jealousies  and  his  disappoint 
ment.  Gorham,  guided  by  Eleanor's  judgment,  had  re 
frained  even  from  expressing  to  Alice  his  strong  desire 
that  she  should  marry  Covington,  but  with  Allen  already 
self-effaced  and  with  Alice  accepting  Covington's  at 
tentions,  oven  though  as  yet  uncommitted,  all  was  pro 
gressing  to  his  satisfaction. 

Allen's  duties  still  took  him  frequently  to  the 
[207] 


Gorham  house,  but  he  saw  Alice  only  casually,  as  he  made 
no  effort  to  force  himself  upon  her.  She  was  too  much 
engrossed  with  the  new  element  which  had  entered  her 
life  to  concern  herself  particularly,  but  she  was  negative 
ly  grateful  to  him  for  not  making  the  present  condition 
unpleasant.  She  wanted  to  keep  him  as  a  friend,  and 
told  him  so  frankly,  but  that  could  only  be  so  long  as  he 
accepted  things  as  he  found  them. 

But  any  lack  of  enthusiasm  on  the  part  of  Alice  was 
more  than  made  up  for  by  Patricia.  She  was  living  on 
the  seventh  floor  of  her  seventh  heaven.  As  she  saw  it, 
Alice  had  acted  in  the  friendliest  way  possible  in  giving 
her  a  clear  field  with  her  Sir  Launcelot.  Allen  humored 
her,  finding  a  real  relief  in  this  childish  game  which  his 
little  friend  took  so  seriously.  The  one  drawback  was 
the  amount  of  intimate  information  which  she  conveyed 
through  the  medium  of  her  innocent  prattle.  Allen 
could  not  know  what  was  coming  next,  and  so  was  power 
less  to  head  off  conversation  upon  subjects  into  which 
he  knew  he  had  no  right  to  enter,  for  Patricia  possessed 
the  faculty  of  keeping  herself  well  informed  as  to  family 
matters.  It  was  through  this  that  he  secured  the  first 
clew  upon  which  to  start  a  real  investigation,  so  he  con 
sidered  the  information  Heaven-sent,  and  blessed  the 
child  accordingly. 

The  staircase,  as  usual,  formed  the  trysting-placc. 
Here  Patricia  waylaid  her  Knight  on  his  way  down  from 
the  library,  taking  her  position  on  an  upper  step,  which 
made  their  difference  in  height  less  apparent.  The  same 
ceremony  was  enacted  each  time  in  accord  with  the  ritual 
she  had  taught  him.  After  he  passed  her,  she  sudden 
ly  sprang  up  to  her  full  stature,  holding  her  arm  high 
above  her  with  the  palm  of  her  hand  extended. 

[  2081 


THE      LEVER 


"  Wit  ye  well,  Sir  Knight !"  she  cried,  impressively. 

Then  Allen  turned — he  was  forbidden,  under  pain  of 
death,  to  recognize  her  until  he  heard  these  mystic  words 
— knelt  on  the  step  below  her  and  kissed  her  other  hand, 
while  the  one  upraised  descended  upon  his  head  in  bene 
diction. 

"  The  Lord  be  with  thee,  Fair  Lady,"  he  replied,  fol 
lowing  his  lesson. 

"  And  with  thee — I  accept  thy  troth.  Now  we  can 
have  a  visit." 

The  Arthurian  lady  had  vanished,  and  Patricia  was 
herself  again,  curled  up  close  beside  him. 

"  Look  here,  Lady  Pat,"  he  said,  shaking  his  finger 
at  her  warningly,  "  I  think  we  ought  to  put  a  stop  to 
this — you're  taking  it  all  too  seriously." 

"  Of  course,"  she  admitted,  smiling  up  at  him.  "  Why 
don't  we  get  married  right  away — then  it  needn't  be  seri 
ous  any  longer." 

"  Well  "  — Allen  would  not  have  wounded  the  devoted 
little  heart  for  worlds  —  "  one  reason  is  that  I  haven't 
money  enough." 

"Did  Knights  have  to  have  money?"  Patricia  in 
quired.  "  I  never  saw  a  suit  of  armor  with  a  money- 
pocket  in  it." 

"  Neither  did  I,"  he  admitted.  "  There  wasn't  any 
money  then,  like  ours,  and  when  they  wanted  anything 
they  didn't  have,  they  fought  for  it." 

"  Well,  then,  why  don't  you  fight  for  it?" 

"  I'm  going  to — I  am  fighting  now.  I  mean,  Lady 
Pat,  they  don't  let  you  fight  the  way  they  used  to." 

"  Is  it  only  because  you  haven't  money  enough  that 
we  don't  marry,  Sir  Launcelot  ?" 

"  That  is — one  of  the  principal  reasons." 
14  [  209  ] 


THE      LEVER 


"  Swear  that  you  don't  love  any  other  fair  lady." 

"  Except  Alice,"  Allen  insisted. 

"  Shall  you  always  love  her?"  Patricia  asked,  wist- 
fully. 

Allen  sighed.     "  I'm  afraid  so,  Lady  Pat." 

"  Well,  I  don't  care — I'll  love  you  enough  for  both  of 
us,  so  that's  all  settled.  Now  promise  that  you'll  sit  on 
this  very  step  and  not  move  'til  I  come  back." 

"  What  for?     I  must  run  along." 

"  You  promised,"  she  cried,  and  disappeared  up-stairs 
as  fast  as  her  little  white  legs  could  carry  her.  There 
was  nothing  to  do  but  wait,  yet  Allen  was  not  long  kept 
in  suspense.  Patricia  returned  with  equal  speed,  carry 
ing  her  bank  in  both  hands. 

"  There  !"  she  exclaimed,  jingling  the  contents.  "  You 
take  that  and  make  a  lot  more  with  it,  and  we  shall  have 
all  the  money  we  want." 

"  But  I  can't  do  that,"  he  protested. 

"  Aren't  you  as  smart  as  Mr.  Covington  ?" 

"  What  has  he  to  do  with  it,  Lady  Pat?" 

"  He  took  Alice's  money  and  made  a  whole  lot  more 
with  it,  and  I'm  going  to  tell  you  how  to  do  it,  too." 

Patricia  danced  before  him  on  the  hall  rug,  clapping 
her  hands  together  with  joy  and  excitement.  Suddenly 
she  paused  in  her  gyrations,  and,  placing  her  mouth 
close  to  his  ear,  she  whispered : 

"  Buy  some  storks  from  the  New  York  Railroad." 

Allen  jumped  to  his  feet  as  if  he  had  been  struck. 
"What  did  you  say?"  he  demanded,  seizing  the  child 
almost  roughly  by  the  wrist;  but  Patricia  attributed  his 
action  to  excitement  and  joy  equal  to  her  own,  so  ac 
cepted  it  cheerfully. 

"  That  is  it,"  she  repeated,  firmly.  "  I'm  sure,  for 
[210] 


THE      LEVER 


I  wrote  it  down  just  as  soon  as  I  heard  it.  I  knew  I 
should  need  it  some  time.  Storks  must  be  very  valuable 
birds,  because  Mr.  Covington  told  Alice  not  to  tell;  and 
he  made  thirty — thousand — dollars  for  her.  Now,  you're 
smarter  than  Mr.  Covington,  and  you  can  make  a  hun 
dred  thousand.  Will  you?" 

"  I'll  start  right  out  and  see  what  I  can  do."  Allen 
tried  to  keep  the  child  from  seeing  his  excitement.  "  I 
haven't  time  to  stop  to  tell  you  how  naughty  it  is  to 
listen.  If  I  don't  go  right  now  the  storks  may  all  be 
gone,  and  then  of  course  we  couldn't  make  any  money. 
Good-bye,  Lady  Pat — I'll  try  hard,  but  don't  be  disap 
pointed  if  there  aren't  any  left — good-bye." 

Allen  rushed  from  the  house  and,  hailing  a  passing 
taxi,  ordered  the  chauffeur  to  drive  to  the  office,  al 
though  it  was  now  nearly  six  o'clock. 


XXI 


WITH  characteristic  energy  Gorham  made  good 
the  promise  given  to  Allen  to  investigate  mat 
ters  at  the  office,  and  not  many  days  after  his 
return  to  his  desk  he  issued  a  call  for  a  special  meeting 
of  the  Executive  Committee.  He  looked  upon  it  almost 
as  a  weakness  to  have  permitted  this  boy's  unsupported 
statements  to  influence  him  even  to  this  extent,  but  he 
justified  himself  by  the  knowledge  that  a  confirmation  of 
the  loyalty  of  his  associates  would  give  him  renewed 
strength. 

The  day  of  the  meeting  found  every  member  of  the 
committee  present — a  fact  which  interested  Gorham  as 
an  evidence  of  the  devotion  of  these  men  to  the  respon 
sibilities  which  rested  upon  them.  But  the  routine  busi 
ness  had  no  sooner  been  completed  than  the  president 
became  aware  that  the  harmony  which  had  existed  from 
the  beginning  was  in  danger  of  being  disturbed.  In 
quiries  were  made  which  were  too  significant  to  be  over 
looked,  and  veiled  criticism  came  from  quarters  where 
previously  he  had  believed  existed  absolute  confidence  in 
himself  and  full  approval  of  his  methods. 

"  It  is  well  to  have  this  come  to  a  head,"  Gorham  re 
marked  after  several  had  expressed  their  views.  "  This 
corporation  is  so  gigantic  that  it  must  fall  of  its  own 
weight  unless  every  part  of  its  structure  be  sound  and 

[212] 


THE      LEVER 


effective  in  bearing  its  share  of  the  load.  There  is  no 
stability  where  there  is  lack  of  harmony,  and  what  you 
gentlemen  have  said  to-day  shows  beyond  question  that 
radical  and  immediate  action  is  imperative  to  preserve 
to  our  stockholders  what  we  have  already  gained  for 
them,  and  to  secure  the  future  benefits  which  are  assured, 
provided  the  Companies  itself  can  act  as  a  unit.  Now, 
in  order  that  we  may  clearly  understand  the  situation, 
will  not  Mr.  Litchfield  state  specifically  the  criticism  im 
plied  in  his  remarks?" 

Litchfield  rose  deliberately  from  his  seat.  He  was  the 
head  of  certain  large  gas-works  which  the  corporation 
had  acquired  in  connection  with  its  consolidation  of  the 
lighting  interests  in  Philadelphia. 

"  Before  complying  with  Mr.  Gorham's  request,"  he 
began,  "  I  wish  to  say  that  nothing  is  further  from  my 
intentions  than  to  cast  aspersions  either  upon  our  presi 
dent  or  his  motives.  During  the  time  I  have  served  on 
this  committee  I  have  been  amazed  by  the  increasing 
realization  which  has  come  to  me  of  the  marvellous  suc 
cess  he  has  achieved  in  developing  the  Consolidated  Com 
panies  to  the  point  it  has  reached  to-day.  Many  of  us 
have  contributed  in  a  smaller  or  greater  degree  to  its 
success,  but  it  has  been  his  master  mind  which  has  an 
ticipated  the  conditions  and  provided  the  means  to  make 
the  most  of  them.  But  it  is  also  true  that  in  doing  this 
Mr.  Gorham  has,  in  my  opinion,  deliberately  neglected 
to  secure  for  the  Companies  as  large  returns  as  might 
have  been  gained.  In  the  Philadelphia  Lighting  Com 
pany,  for  example,  with  which  I  am  naturally  more 
familiar  than  with  any  of  the  other  ramifications  of  the 
Consolidated  Companies,  Mr.  Gorham  has  voluntarily 
reduced  the  rates  when  the  consumers  had  expressed  no 

[213] 


THE      LEVER 


general  discontent  with  the  former  prices.  It  is  true 
that  the  consolidation  effected  great  economies  in  the 
production,  but  it  is  entirely  obvious  that  the  profits  to 
the  company  would  be  greater  if  we  were  receiving  the 
full  advantage  of  the  economies  bv  still  selling  our  prod 
uct  at  the  old  rates.  And  this  case  which  I  have  cited 
is,  I  understand,  a  fair  sample  of  Mr.  Gorham's  policy 
in  all  other  directions.  I  can  appreciate  the  desirability 
in  the  past  of  giving  the  people  the  advantage  in  a  few 
transactions  in  order  to  create  public  confidence;  but  to 
continue  to  make  a  practice  of  so  doing  appears  to  me 
to  be  unnecessary  and,  I  may  say,  unbusinesslike." 

After  Litchfield  sat  down  Gorham  called  upon  several 
others,  some  of  whom  expressed  themselves,  with  more 
or  less  frankness,  along  the  same  line. 

"  Then  it  all  sums  itself  up  in  this,"  he  said  at  length, 
after  having  invited  remarks  from  those  who  cared  to 
take  part  in  the  discussion :  "  Your  president  has  been 
guilty  of  not  making  the  most  of  the  opportunities  which 
he  himself  has  created." 

This  seemed  to  be  the  sense  of  the  meeting. 

"  Then  let  me  ask  a  few  questions,"  continued  Gor 
ham.  "  Mr.  Litchfield  has  told  us  of  the  reduced  cost  of 
production  in  his  plants  as  a  result  of  our  consolidation. 
Will  he  not  further  state  how  great  that  economy  is  ?" 

"  Thirty  -  three  and  one  -  third  per  cent.,"  was  the 
prompt  reply. 

"  And  we  have  reduced  the  rate  how  much  ?" 

"  Fifteen  per  cent." 

"  How  much  has  the  business  increased  during  the 
past  year?" 

"  About  twenty  per  cent." 

"  And  the  balance-sheet  shows  what  as  to  profits  ?" 
1214] 


THE     LEVER 


"  About  twenty-five  per  cent,  larger  than  any  previous 
year." 

"  In  spite  of  the  reduced  rates,"  Gorham  added,  sig 
nificantly. 

"But  they  would  have  been  larger  still  if  the  old  rates 
had  prevailed,"  Litchfield  insisted. 

"  I  cannot  agree  with  you,"  Gorham  said,  firmly. 
"  Your  concern  had  been  standing  still  for  six  years 
when  we  took  hold  of  it — the  business  had  even  gone 
backward  the  last  year — yet  in  two  years'  time,  under 
our  administration,  it  shows  a  gross  gain  of  thirty-three 
and  one-third  per  cent,  and  a  net  gain  of  twenty-five.  I 
am  enlarging  on  Mr.  Litchfield's  case  because,  in  a  meas 
ure,  it  is  an  answer  to  you  all,  and  a  full  justification  of 
the  basis  upon  which  I  have  rested  and  shall  continue  to 
rest  the  operations  of  the  Companies.  It  has  been  my 
pride  that  it  was  possible  to  administer  the  affairs  of  this 
corporation  in  such  a  way  that  not  only  could  we  boast 
that  during  the  five  years  of  our  business  existence  we 
had  lived  up  to  the  principles  on  which  we  originally- 
built,  but  also  that  we  have  proved  it  a  sound  financial 
proposition.  Never  before  in  the  history  of  the  world 
has  any  body  of  men  associated  themselves  in  business 
with  the  avowed  purpose  of  making  their  organization 
an  advantage  to  the  people,  without  either  failing  sig 
nally  in  their  undertaking  or  proving  themselves  false 
to  their  responsibilities.  We  have  reached  a  point  where 
failure  is  impossible ;  we  find  ourselves  receiving  greater 
returns  upon  our  investment  than  is  yielded  by  any  other 
organization  in  existence.  Can  it  be  possible  that  there 
is  one  man  among  us  who  wishes  to  take  away  from  the 
Companies  the  unique  position  which  it  has  now  gained?" 

It  was  evident  that  Litchfield  had  been  appointed  the 
[215] 


THE      LEVER 


spokesman  for  the  committee,  as  he  immediately  assumed 
the  responsibility  of  replying  to  Gorham's  remarks. 

"  May  I  not  ask  our  president  if  he  does  not  over 
estimate  the  importance  of  standing  up  so  straight  that 
there  is  danger  of  falling  over  backward?  There  is  no 
difference  of  opinion  as  to  the  commercial  value  of  the 
great  asset  which  he  has  established  for  the  Companies, 
in  so  completely  winning  the  confidence  of  the  people  at 
large  as  well  as  those  who  hold  high  positions  of  trust. 
We  should  stultify  ourselves  were  we  to  take  any  such 
stand,  for  the  profits  of  the  Companies  are  an  irrefutable 
argument.  The  question  before  us,  then,  is  not  one  of 
fact,  but  rather  of  degree.  Why  should  we  spend  these 
further  millions  to  gain  that  which  we  have  already 
secured?  We  should  still  so  administer  the  affairs  of 
the  Companies  as  to  hold  this  great  advantage,  but 
I  maintain  that  we  should  pay  no  more  to  hold  it  than 
is  absolutely  necessary." 

Gorham  glanced  around  to  sec  if  any  one  else  was 
disposed  to  add  to  what  Litchfield  had  said,  but  the 
silence  which  prevailed  indicated  more  clearly  than  words 
that  the  speaker  had  expressed  the  consensus  of  opinion. 

"  I  am  waiting  for  some  one  to  remind  Mr.  Litch 
field  that  he  has  overlooked,  in  his  statement,  a  fact 
which  possesses  vital  significance,"  Gorham  said  at 
length.  "  The  Consolidated  Companies  has  received 
from  the  people  concessions  which  it  has  succeeded  in 
making  immensely  valuable.  It  has  accepted  these  con 
cessions  in  trust  upon  the  distinct  understanding  that 
those  who  gave  them  should  receive  equal  benefit.  So  far, 
this  trust  has  been  religiously  observed.  Every  dollar 
of  profit  which  the  stockholders  have  divided  represents 
a  like  amount  paid  back  to  those  to  whom  it  belongs. 

[216] 


THE      LEVER 


To  pay  them  less  would  bo  not  only  a  breach  of  faith, 
but  would  be  to  retain  that  which  does  not  belong  to 
us.  It  is  not  for  Mr.  Litchfield  or  for  me  to  determine 
the  amount — the  proportion  has  already  been  settled 
by  our  original  covenant." 

Litchfield  moved  uneasily  in  his  chair  as  Gorham 
ceased  speaking. 

"  You  put  it  in  rather  a  disagreeable  form,  Mr.  Gor 
ham.  Perhaps  the  fact  that  you  have  been  talking 
this  side  of  the  enterprise  for  so  long  has  made  you 
assimilate  more  of  your  own  theories  than  is  ordinarily 
the  case.  Of  course,  in  the  beginning,  it  was  necessary 
to  make  the  statements  strong  in  order  to  be  convincing, 
but  there  was  no  '  covenant,'  as  you  call  it,  and  the  peo 
ple  are  not  in  a  position  to  exact  an  equal  division  unless 
we  choose  to  give  it  to  them." 

"  Can  it  be  that  I  understand  you  correctly  ?"  Gor 
ham  demanded,  with  mingled  indignation  and  amaze 
ment.  "  Do  you  mean  to  imply  that  I  have  not  been 
sincere  in  stating  to  the  public  the  original  basis  upon 
which  we  incorporated?  Do  you  suggest  that  when  one 
party  to  the  agreement  has  lived  fairly  up  to  his  end 
of  it  we,  the  other  party,  should  neglect  to  do  the  same, 
simply  because  he  has  no  access  to  our  books  and  no 
power  to  demand  an  accounting?" 

"  You  are  far  too  literal  in  your  interpretation  of  my 
remarks,"  Litchfield  protested,  with  some  warmth.  ""  This 
parallel  you  have  drawn  is  absurd  on  the  face  of  it. 
There  has  been  no  legal  agreement  that  we  should 
treat  the  dear  public  as  if  it  were  in  actual  partner 
ship  with  us.  You  have  held  out  certain  inducements 
which  have  secured  for  us  the  concessions,  and  we  have 
made  good  the  promise  you  gave  that  our  success  meant 

*  r  217 1 


THE      LEVER 


advantage  to  the  people.  But  all  this  was  a  means  to 
an  end.  For  five  years  the  public  has  shared  equally 
with  those  of  us  who  have  put  money  and  brains  into 
the  Consolidated  Companies.  No  one  suggests  that  the 
people  should  not  still  continue  to  receive  benefits,  but 
those  of  us  here  present  arc  unanimous  in  our  convic 
tion  that  the  time  has  now  come  to  conduct  the  Com 
panies  upon  a  strictly  business  basis.  This  is  not  the 
Jige  for  quixotic  sentimentality,  and  the  Consolidated 
Companies  not  only  possesses  the  right,  but  the  power 
to  maintain  its  position  upon  the  same  basis  as  other 
smaller  and  less  powerful  organizations.  Speaking  for 
myself  alone,  I  jxm  amazed  that  Robert  Gorham,  with 
his  exceptional  jind  acknowledged  business  acumen, 
should  take  a  position  with  his  Executive  Committee 
which  is  as  disadvantageous  to  his  own  interests  as  it 
is  to  the  stockholders'." 

No  one  but  Gorham  himself  saw  the  mist  which  mo 
mentarily  rose  before  his  eyes,  yet,  when  it  passed,  his 
vision  was  clearer  than  it  had  ever  been.  The  men 
sitting  around  him  represented  the  flower  of  the  busi 
ness  world,  each  one  of  whom  stood  before  his  fellow- 
men  as  a  tangible  expression  of  honor  and  integrity. 
Yet  not  one  was  able  to  comprehend  Gorham's  viewpoint, 
not  one  could  be  anything  but  incredulous  that  he  stood 
sincere  in  the  position  he  had  taken.  This  was  what 
hurt  him  most.  The  applause  which  his  associates  had 
awarded  him  had  been  as  that  won  by  a  clever  actor 
rather  than,  as  he  had  believed,  the  responsive  echo 
forced  from  their  souls  by  the  bjittle  notes  of  a  new 
cause.  Their  acceptance  of  his  doctrines  had  been  be 
cause  his  arguments  had  persuaded  them  of  the  material 
side  of  the  enterprise.  The  very  magnetism  which  they 

[218] 


THE      LEVER 


had  felt  exercised  by  him  upon  themselves  they  had 
capitalized  as  an  asset  to  be  assayed  when  once  the  ore 
was  stoped.  All  the  high-sounding  claims  were  turned 
at  this  moment  into  empty  platitudes.  All  his  promises 
were  valueless  beyond  his  personal  strength  to  make 
them  good.  To  this  extent  Allen  had  been  right,  but 
it  was  not  too  late  to  recognize  the  danger  and  to  meet 
it.  His  associates  saw  the  Robert  Gorham  they  thought 
they  had  known  for  five  years  sitting  in  repose  before 
them  while  this  realization  of  the  situation  surged 
through  his  brain — they  saw  the  real  Robert  Gorham 
when  he  rose  to  his  feet,  and  faced  them  with  a  force 
they  felt  before  a  word  was  spoken. 

"  I  could  not  have  believed  it  possible,"  he  said,  "  for 
a  moment  such  as  this  ever  to  arrive.  I  have  lived  in 
this  business  Utopia  for  five  years,  blind  to  the  fact 
that  those  who  labored  with  me  failed  utterly  to  com 
prehend  or  to  appreciate  the  sincerity  of  my  motives  or 
the  integrity  of  my  purpose.  I  admit  that  I  question 
my  ability  to  make  clear  to  you  by  words  what  my  acts 
have  not  conveyed.  During  these  years,  and  until  to 
day,  you  have  accepted  my  judgment  as  supreme,  and 
for  the  first  time  I  realize  that  this  was  not  because 
you  believed  in  it,  but  because  you  saw  in  it  advantage 
to  yourselves.  The  gratification  which  I  have  enjoyed 
from  this  supposed  tribute  has  vanished,  like  the  empty 
bubble  that  it  was.  It  has  been  said  that  the  Consoli 
dated  Companies  was  a  one-man  corporation,  which  I 
have  denied,  believing  that  my  labors  were  rather  those 
of  the  pioneer,  showing  the  way  to  those  associated  with 
me  who  would  naturally  follow  my  footsteps.  Again, 
I  was  wrong:  this  has  been  a  one-man  corporation,  and 
it  is  so  to-day.  Not  only  has  the  creation  of  it  been 

[219] 


THE      LEVER 


mine  and  mine  alone,  but  also  the  successful  putting 
into  execution  of  those  principles  which  I  alone  devised. 
The  credit  for  this,  which  I  have  until  now  proudly 
conceded  to  }rou,  I  assume  wholly  for  myself,  and  I 
also  give  myself  the  further  credit  of  having,  unknown 
to  myself,  been  the  single  force  which  has  compelled 
you  to  live  up  to  the  high  standard  I  established. 

"  Now,  as  the  parent  of  this  child  which  I  have  seen 
develop  to  this  point  under  my  guidance  and  protection, 
I  stand  here  prepared  to  fight  for  its  honor  against  you 
who  threaten  its  destruction — and  I  warn  you  that 
the  parent  love  dares  much.  As  the  Roman  Virginius 
stood  with  his  sword  pricking  the  flesh  over  the  heart 
of  his  beloved  daughter,  so  do  I  stand  ready  to  destroy 
my  offspring  rather  than  suffer  its  dishonor  at  the  hands 
of  any  Appius  Claudius.  Gentlemen,  the  Consolidated 
Companies  has  been  a  one-man  corporation  in  the  past 
through  your  sufferance ;  from  to-day,  if  it  exist  at  all, 
it  shall  be  a  one-man  corporation  because  of  my  will. 
You  know  that  these  are  no  idle  words.  You  know 
what  would  be  the  result  of  a  single  statement  from 
me  that  the  Companies  repudiates  its  assumed  responsi 
bilities.  I  do  not  ask — I  demand  that  you  gentlemen, 
as  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  corporation,  pass 
such  resolutions  as  will  place  the  authority  absolutely 
in  my  hands.  I  ask  Mr.  Litchfield  to  take  the  chair, 
while  I  retire  to  give  you  ample  opportunity  for  dis 
cussion.  However  hard  it  may  be  for  your  personal 
pride,  you  will  have  to  do  this — you  have  too  much  at 
stake  to  gratify  your  resentment  of  my  autocracy.  But 
if  you  can  gain  any  consolation  in  the  knowledge  that 
you  have  dealt  your  president  a  blow  from  which  it 
will  take  long  for  him  to  recover,  I  beg  of  you  to  make 

[220] 


THE      LEVER 


the  most  of  it.  I  believed  that  power  was  the  supreme 
lever  with  which  to  move  the  world,  and  that  money  was 
but  the  fulcrum  upon  which  that  lever  should  rest.  You 
gentlemen  have  shattered  this  belief,  and  have  shown  me 
that  sordid  gold  is  the  controlling  object  of  man's  life. 
Still,  I  prefer  to  remain  in  my  Utopia,  alone  if  need  be, 
but  with  your  unwilling  company  so  long  as  my  present 
strength  shall  last." 

Gorham  closed  his  eyes  involuntarily  as  he  ceased 
speaking,  still  standing  before  his  associates.  A  single 
tremor  passed  over  his  face,  and  then  it  was  as  impassive 
as  before.  With  a  bow  as  courteous  as  it  was  impressive, 
he  left  the  room. 


XXII 


WHEN  Covington  entered  Gorham's  office  an 
hour  later  he  found  his  chief  bowed  for 
ward  on  his  desk,  his  head  resting  upon  his 
hands.  As  the  door  closed  the  older  man  raised  his 
eyes,  and  the  change  in  his  face  caused  Covington  to 
stop  in  surprise.  The  usual  color  was  replaced  by  a 
dull,  ashen  gray,  the  lines  had  deepened,  and  the  gen 
eral  aspect  was  that  of  a  man  ten  years  older. 

"  Everything  is  all  right.  Mr.  Gorham,"  Covington 
remarked,  encouragingly.  "  They  passed  the  resolu 
tions  you  demanded." 

"  John." 

It  was  the  first  time  Gorham  had  ever  addressed  him 
by  his  Christian  name,  and  this  fact,  together  with  the 
tone  in  which  it  was  spoken,  aroused  a  novel  sensation 
in  the  younger  man.  He  took  the  outstretched  hand, 
and  accepted  the  friendly  pressure,  conscious  of  a  feel 
ing  not  altogether  pleasant. 

"  John,"  Gorham  repeated,  "  you  and  I  are  the  only 
ones  who  can  save  the  Companies  to  its  stockholders. 
We  have  a  tremendous  responsibility  thrust  upon  us." 

"  But  you  won  out,"  Covington  exclaimed,  amazed 
that  Gorham  seemed  not  to  have  comprehended  his  words. 
"  Everything  is  all  right." 

"  Everything  is  all  wrong,"  the  older  man  corrected, 
[  222  ] 


THE      LEVER 


his  eyes  flashing  with  a  fire  at  variance  with  his  general 
bearing.  "  Of  course  I  wron  out,  but  that  is  the  least 
of  my  concern.  My  life-work  bids  fair  to  be  a  failure, 
unless  you  and  I  together  can  build  this  structure  over, 
using  material  which  this  time  will  prove  strong  enough 
to  withstand  the  unholy  strain  of  money,  money,  money. 
Of  course  I  won  out,  because  they  dare  not  risk  my  an 
tagonism;  but  I  have  failed — miserably  failed — in  my 
efforts  to  instil  into  those  associated  with  me  the  basic 
principles  of  a  successful  altruistic  business.  Oh,  the 
pity  of  it !  The  greater  the  returns  the  greater  the 
greed,  and  their  blindness  in  killing  the  goose  which 
lays  the  golden  egg !  But  in  you,  John,  at  least,  I  have 
a  tower  of  strength." 

Covington  found  himself  being  rapidly  forced  into 
an  equivocal  position.  No  one  knew  so  well  as  he  that 
the  present  conditions  were  the  direct  result  of  his  skilful 
and  persistent  manipulation,  yet  the  result  of  this  first 
issue  had  not  been  what  he  had  foreseen.  In  fact,  it 
had  turned  out  better  than  he  had  expected,  in  that 
Gorham  now  leaned  on  him  as  his  sole  support.  Yet 
it  was  dangerous,  Covington  realized,  to  be  placed 
where  he  could  be  accused  of  carrying  water  on  both 
shoulders,  so  he  hastened  to  put  himself  on  record,  mid 
way  between  the  two  factions. 

"  They  had  no  idea  that  you  laid  so  much  stress  on 
the  moral  side,  in  your  own  mind —  "  he  began. 

"  How  could  they  have  known  me  at  all  and  thought 
otherwise?" 

"  The  whole  scheme  of  the  Consolidated  Companies 
is  so  unusual  that  perhaps  it  isn't  to  be  wondered  at. 
What  you  consider  to  be  unwarranted  is  a  recognized 
business  method  in  other  corporations." 

[223] 


T  II  E      L  EVER 


"  Why  do  you  tell  me  this?"  Gorham  demanded,  sud 
denly. 

"  Because  I  feared  that  you  had  overlooked  it,  in 
the  heat  of  the  argument,  and  some  sort  of  a  com 
promise  is  of  course  necessary." 

"  Compromise?"  repeated  Gorham,  quest ioningly. 
"  I  don't  follow  you." 

"  Why,  you've  carried  your  point,  and  proved  your 
strength,  but  you  have  divided  the  Companies  into  two 
camps.  Of  course  something  must  be  done  to  con 
ciliate.  By  Jove !  that  was  an  arraignment  you  gave 
them !" 

"  There  can  be  no  conciliation,  Covington,"  was  the 
firm  response ;  "  there  can  be  no  compromise.  The  Con 
solidated  Companies  either  is  what  it  is,  or  it  is  nothing. 
The  pledges  which  I  have  made  from  the  beginning 
shall  be  lived  up  to  in  spirit  and  in  letter,  or  the  final 
exercise  of  the  strength  which  they  all  are  forced  to  ad 
mit  shall  be  again  to  separate  it  into  its  integral  parts, 
and  prevent  it  from  undoing  that  which  I  have  already 
accomplished  through  its  agency." 

"  That  is  a  large  contract  for  any  one  man  to  under 
take,"  Covington  remarked.  "  No  individual  has  yet 
been  able  to  disintegrate  a  successful  going  corpora 
tion  when  the  stockholders  and  the  directors  were  op 
posed  to  it." 

"  We  are  talking  of  unusual  things,"  Gorham  replied. 
"  No  individual  before  has  been  able  to  found  so  mam 
moth  or  so  successful  a  corporation  as  the  Consolidated 
Companies.  No  individual  before  this  has  found  him 
self  strong  enough  to  force  the  immediate  capitulation, 
against  their  wills,  of  so  powerful  an  Executive  Com 
mittee.  With  these  precedents  before  me,  I  state  my 

[224] 


THE      LEVER 


determination  not  as  a  threat,  or  as  a  boast,  but  as  a 
fact." 

"  Are  you  counting  on  the  stockholders  for  support  ?" 

"  Absolutely." 

"  You  will  find  them  as  unanimously  against  you  as 
you  have  just  found  the  committee." 

"  Do  you  know  this?" 

"  They  all  know  it ;  they  would  not  have  taken  their 
position  otherwise.  Next  time,  the  stockholders  will  be 
put  in  evidence." 

Gorham  again  became  silent.  This  second  shock,  fol 
lowing  so  soon  after  the  first,  for  a  moment  paralyzed 
his  power  to  think,  but  he  quickly  recovered  his  op 
timism. 

"  I  do  not  believe  it — I  will  not  believe  it.  But  why 
do  you  tell  me  this?"  lie  again  asked.  "  There  must  be 
some  purpose  behind  it  all." 

"  There  is.  It  is  necessary  for  you  to  realize  the 
exact  position  we  are  in.  Your  work  has  been  with 
those  about  to  become  stockholders,  or  with  the  consoli 
dations;  I  have  been  brought  in  personal  contact  with 
the  stockholders  and  the  directors.  You  have  met  the 
ideals,  while  I  have  come  face  to  face  with  the  actuali 
ties.  For  this  reason  I  tell  you  that  you  are  undertaking 
a  more  serious  campaign  than  you  realize,  and  I  also  tell 
you  that,  strong  as  you  arc,  compromise  and  conciliation 
will  eventually  be  required." 

"  Do  I,  then,  stand  alone?" 

Covington  resented  the  suggestion. 

"  There  should   be   no  question    in   your   mind  as  to 

where  I  stand,"  he  said.     "  My  personal  relations  with 

you,  and  my  hope  of  an  even  closer  relationship,  make 

any  discussion  unnecessary.    But  I  sec  the  situation  from 

15  '[  2l>r>  1 


THE      LEVER 


a  viewpoint  which  you  cannot,  and  my  duty  clearly 
demands  that  I  express  myself  to  you  with  complete 
frankness.  I  do  not  suggest  that  you  give  up  your 
ideals — I  simply  urge  you  to  compromise  with  them  in 
order  to  win  greater  victories  in  the  future." 

"  Covington,"  replied  Gorham,  with  decision,  "  you 
know  how  much  I  value  your  judgment,  how  firmly  I 
rely  upon  your  loyalty.  Because  of  this,  I  shall  move 
with  even  greater  care  than  so  serious  a  crisis  as  this 
inevitably  demands.  Yet  it  is  only  fair  to  say  to  you 
now  that  I  can  see  but  one  outcome.  There  are  many 
conflicts  which  arise  in  life  which  admit  of  compromise — 
but  you  cannot  compromise  with  truth,  with  virtue,  or 
with  honor.  These  attributes  cither  exist,  or  they  do 
not — there  are  no  half-ways.  Suppose  you  do  a  little 
thinking,  too,  along  my  line.  Then  we'll  join  together, 
taking  advantage  of  this  new  knowledge  which  has  come 
to  us,  and  force  the  issue  where  we  sec  the  necessity. 
We  are  both  trying  to  accomplish  the  same  results,  but 
are  considering  different  routes.  Think  it  over,  my 
friend,  and  I  feel  sure  that  you  will  see  that  I  am  right." 

His  interview  with  Gorham  left  Covington  with  cer 
tain  well-defined  conclusions :  Gorham  would  never  yield 
one  iota  from  his  position,  and  his  associates  Avould  not 
rest  until  they  had  wiped  out  this  affront  they  had 
received.  It  would  be  necessary  for  him  to  take  sides 
openly  with  Gorham  or  else  make  definite  sacrifices.  Yet 
he  must  hold  the  position  he  now  had  with  the  directors 
so  as  to  be  Gorharn's  successor  in  case  the  affair  turned 
in  that  direction ;  and,  most  important  of  all,  he  must 
fortify  himself  still  further  against  the  breaking  of  the 
storm,  which  he  knew  would  sooner  or  later  come  upon 
him. 

[226] 


THE     LEVER 


In  military  conflicts  there  are  various  methods  of  win 
ning  a  victory.  When  the  adversary  appears  too  strong 
for  a  direct  battle,  a  skilful  tactician  will  sometimes 
weaken  the  enemy's  strength  by  a  rear  attack.  Coving- 
ton  was  a  skilful  tactician,  and  in  the  present  crisis 
the  affidavits  he  had  stored  away  in  his  safe-deposit 
drawer  tempted  him  sorely.  He  had  never  expected  to 
use  them,  he  told  himself.  He  had  never  expected  to 
be  placed  in  opposition  to  Mr.  Gorham.  With  the  fam 
ily  alliance  he  contemplated,  there  would  seem  to  be  no 
occasion  for  conflicting  interests  to  exist  between  them. 
But  if  Gorham  insisted  on  making  a  fool  of  himself, 
there  was  really  no  good  reason  why  Covington  should 
allow  himself  to  be  dragged  down  with  him.  It  was 
infinitely  wiser  to  be  in  the  position  of  "  heads  I  win, 
tails  you  lose."  Surely  he  could  not  be  accused  of 
selfishness  in  the  matter,  when,  if  Mr.  Gorham  were  event 
ually  dethroned  by  the  directors,  and  he,  Covington, 
crowned  in  his  place,  it  would  simply  result  in  keeping 
the  Consolidated  Companies  still  in  the  family.  And 
as  for  Gorham's  silly  threat  to  disintegrate  the  corpo 
ration  —  that  was  too  absurd  to  be  considered  seri 
ously. 

So  Covington  again  inspected  the  papers  which  Levy 
had  secured  for  him.  The  one  which  related  to  Mrs. 
Buckner  and  the  prospector  he  laid  aside  at  once  as  too 
contemptible  to  be  considered,  but  the  other  interested 
him.  Gorham  was  setting  himself  above  other  men  who 
held  enviable  positions  in  the  business  and  social  world. 
If  this  affidavit  was  true — and  Covington  saw  no  reason 
to  doubt  its  authenticity — this  demigod  might  hesitate 
to  emphasize  his  superiority.  With  the  legality  of  his 
marriage  questioned,  his  C/arship  might  be  weakened; 

[  227  1 


THE      LEVER 


and  this,  as  Covington  saw  it,  meant  advantage  to  him 
self  in  the  Consolidated  Companies,  and  an  insurance 
against  any  attitude  Gorham  might  take  against  him. 
With  Brady  .vowing  vengeance,  his  part  in  unloading 
the  railways  stock  on  Alice  might  at  any  time  be  un 
covered.  With  the  present  strained  relations  between 
Gorham  and  the  Executive  Committee,  his  confidential 
relations  with  both  sides  might  prove  disagreeable.  But 
with  Gorham  himself  entangled  in  a  domestic  complica 
tion,  serious  consequences  to  himself  from  such  a  catas 
trophe  might  be  averted,  or,  at  least,  mitigated.  And, 
best  of  all,  Levy  was  quite  ready  to  proceed  in  the  mat 
ter  with  Buckner  as  his  client.  Surely  Opportunity 
never  offered  herself  with  more  brazen  coquetry  to  any 
one  than  she  did  to  John  Covington. 

All  this  resulted  in  a  busy  afternoon  for  Lawyer  Levy. 
Covington  returned  the  affidavit  to  him  and  left  him  free 
to  proceed  or  not,  as  he  saw  fit.  Levy's  delight  was  un 
bounded — "  it  was  such  a  nice  case."  Buckner  was  quick 
ly  summoned  to  the  lawyer's  office  and  a  new  agreement 
drawn  between  them,  which  gave  special  joy  to  Buckner, 
as  it  meant  an  increased  supply  of  money  and  a  renewed 
lease  of  life  in  New  York  City,  which  he  had  learned  to 
"  love."  Besides  the  agreement,  he  was  asked  to  sign 
a  letter  to  Mrs.  Gorham,  which  had  been  carefully  worded 
by  Levy  and  was  filled  with  lurid  descriptions  of  his 
affection  and  loneliness.  He  had  accidentally  become 
aware  of  the  fact  that  their  separation  was  not  legal, 
and  the  unexpected  knowledge  had  served  to  revive  in 
him  all  the  fondness  of  the  early  days.  He  had  mas 
tered  the  curse  of  drink  which  had  brought  about  their 
estrangement,  and  needed  her  companionship  and  care. 
He  regretted  the  inconvenience  which  it  might  occasion, 

[228] 


THE      LEVER 


but  Mr.  Gorham  had  everything  while  he  had  nothing 
but  the  affection  which  he  felt  for  her — and  that  as 
she  was  now,  and  always  had  been  his  wife,  he  demanded 
his  rights. 

Levy  had  known  men  to  change  their  minds,  and  in 
order  to  prevent  any  such  misfortune  he  despatched  the 
letter  by  special  messenger  early  in  the  evening.  Gor 
ham  had  returned  late  and  betook  himself  to  the  library 
immediately  after  dinner  to  consider  the  new  business 
complications  with  great  care  before  grappling  with  the 
situation  on  the  following  day.  He  was  still  meditating 
when  he  was  surprised  to  see  Eleanor  enter  the  room,  with 
an  expression  on  her  face  which  at  once  made  him  forget 
his  own  perplexities. 

"  Why,  Eleanor !"  he  cried,  "  what  has  gone  wrong 
with  you?" 

Mrs.  Gorham  took  her  favorite  seat  on  the  arm  of  her 
husband's  chair,  and  he  drew  her  to  him. 

"  I  saw  Ralph  Buckner  while  out  driving  a  few  weeks 
ago,"  she  said  in  response  to  his  question.  "  It  un 
nerved  me  at  the  time,  and  I  have  been  apprehensive  ever 
since.  I  did  not  tell  you  about  it,  as  there  seemed 
nothing  on  which  to  base  my  fears,  and  you  were  so  oc 
cupied.  I  hesitate  even  now  to  add  to  your  burdens,  but 
this  letter  has  just  come,  and  you  should  see  it." 

As  she  spoke  she  placed  the  open  letter  in  his  hand, 
and  he  read  it  carefully. 

"  There  can  be  nothing  to  this — can  there?"  she  asked, 
her  lip  trembling  and  her  whole  expression  showing  how 
eagerly  she  awaited  his  answer. 

"  Eleanor,"  he  said,  softly,  drawing  her  onto  his  lap, 
and  soothing  her  with  the  tenderness  a  mother  would 
have  shown  an  anxious  child.  He  held  her  pressed 

[  229  ] 


THE      LEVER 


closely  to  him  for  so  long  a  time  in  silence  that  at 
last  she  became  frightened  She  sat  upright  and, 
placing  a  hand  on  either  shoulder,  regarded  him 
scarchingly. 

"  Robert,"  she  cried,  aghast,  "  you  don't  believe — 

Then  he  told  her  the  news  which  James  Riley  had 
brought  him,  and  of  his  efforts  to  learn  more. 

"  No,  dear,  I  don't  believe  it,"  Gorham  finally  an 
swered  her  unfinished  question.  "  No  power  on  earth 
could  make  me  believe  it  until  they  proved  it ;  and  even 
then  no  power  could  take  you  from  me." 

"  But  it  must  be  proved  one  way  or  the  other." 

"  There  will  be  no  need,"  Gorham  replied,  with  a  light 
ness  he  did  not  feel ;  "  I  will  find  this  man  and  will  settle 
it  for  all  time." 

"  How  will  you  settle  it,  Robert?" 

"  He  is  doing  this  for  money.  Now  that  he  has  come 
out  into  the  opes,  I  can  take  care  of  him." 

"  But  that  won't  do,  dear.  If  there  is  any  question 
about  the  divorce,  your  buying  him  off  won't  settle  it, 
will  it?" 

"  It  must,"  was  Gorham's  decisive  answer. 

"  It  can't."  Eleanor  rose  and  regarded  him  with  an 
infinite  tenderness.  "It  can't,  Robert;  you  know  it 
can't,  dear.  If  the  divorce  is  not  legal,  then  there  was 
no  marriage  between  us,  and  what  Ralph  Buckner  says 
or  does  cannot  affect  that.  We  must  know  the  facts 
now,  dear." 

"  In  all  probability  the  divorce  was  perfectly  regular. 
It  is  questioned  now  purely  for  blackmailing  purposes; 
but  I  will  submit  to  that,  if  necessary,  rather  than 
have  the  matter  go  any  further.  Don't  be  quixotic 
and  play  into  the  hands  of  these  scoundrels  who  have 

[230] 


THE      LEVER 


gotten  hold  of  Buckner,  and  are  trying  to  reach  me 
through  you,  knowing  well  that  this  is  my  vulnerable 
point." 

Mrs.  Gorham  was  so  long  silent  that  her  husband  felt 
his  argument  had  won. 

"  Eleanor,"  he  said  more  calmly,  "  can  you  ever  fully 
realize  what  you  are  to  me?  All  these  gigantic  trans 
actions  which  have  fallen  to  my  lot  mean  only  so  many 
contests  with  the  world  that  I  may  bring  my  victories 
back  to  you.  The  struggle  is  inspiring,  the  strife  is 
intoxicating  while  it  is  on,  but  how  hollow  the  successes 
except  for  you !  My  life  and  all  its  activities  are  cen 
tred  about  this  one  inmost  shrine  in  which  I  mean  to 
keep  you,  unsullied  by  even  the  implied  contamination 
which  these  blackmailers  would  bring  upon  you.  I  will 
fight  them  with  their  own  weapons,  and,  thank  God,  I 
can  ward  off  the  blow." 

"  Robert — my  Robert !"  Mrs.  Gorham's  voice  was 
low  but  masterful  in  the  force  which  lay  behind  the 
words.  "  Nothing  can  ever  come  to  me  so  bitter  as  to 
make  me  forget  that  this  has  caused  you  to  say  what  you 
have  just  said.  You  mean  every  word,  and  to  have  won 
such  devotion  from  such  a  man  is  enough  to  make  any 
woman's  life  complete.  But  it  is  your  heart  which  speaks, 
and  our  sober  judgment  must  acknowledge  without  a 
question  the  necessity  of  settling  beyond  the  reach  of 
doubt  the  validity  of  the  legal  tie  which  binds  us.  We 
need  no  court  to  settle  the  question  of  our  love,  my  Rob 
ert — that  is  the  real  marriage  which  I  know  God  only 
recognizes ;  but  there  can  be  no  happiness  for  us  if  we 
disregard  even  for  a  moment  those  conventions  which  are 
necessary  to  our  every-day  life.  You  know  it,  dear,  just 
as  I  do." 

[231  ] 


THE      LEVER 


"  It  is  unnecessary,  Eleanor — it  is  unwise.  We  are  so 
certain  that  there  is  no  real  basis  for  doubt." 

"  Would  you  feel  the  same  if  Alice  were  involved?" 
she  asked,  quietly. 

"  Alice?"  he  repeated. 

"  Yes ;  suppose  this  same  question  came  up  with  her, 
would  you  not  be  the  first  to  insist  that  the  facts  be 
proven  ?" 

"  What  can  I  say  ?"  he  asked,  brokenly.  "  This  means 
a  public  trial  and  all  the  scandal  that  goes  with  it.  It 
means  a  rehearsing  of  all  that  past  which  I  have  tried 
to  help  you  to  forget.  It  means  pain  and  sorrow  and 
suffering  to  you,  dear — to  you  whom  I  would  shield  with 
my  life  from  just  what  now  threatens  you." 

"A  trial,  Robert?"  Mrs.  Gorham  asked,  looking  at 
him  with  a  startled  expression.  "  Do  you  mean  that 
there  has  to  be  a  trial?" 

"  Of  course,"  Gorham  replied,  wondering  at  the  un 
expected  change  in  her  attitude. 

Suddenly  she  buried  her  face  against  his  shoulder  and 
burst  into  tears.  "  Oh,  I  couldn't  stand  that !"  she 
cried. 

Gorham  gently  held  her  face  from  him  and  looked 
into  it  kindly  but  questioningly.  "Why  not?"  he 
asked. 

"  It  would  kill  me,"  she  replied,  not  meeting  his 
look. 

"  Is  there  anything  which  the  trial  could  bring  out 
which  you  have  not  already  told  me,  Eleanor?"  he  asked, 
quietly. 

"  Don't  you  know  enough  already  to  understand  why 
I  could  never  live  through  it?" 

Gorham  urged  no  further  and  caressed  her  gently, 
[232] 


THE      LEVER 


yet  there  was  an  expression  of  distinct  disappointment 
in  his  face. 

"  There  must  be  no  trial,"  he  said,  firmly.  "  You 
shall  be  shielded  from  that  and  from  everything  else 
which  threatens  to  bring  you  sorrow.  You  must  leave 
it  all  in  my  hands." 


XXIII 


A'jLEN  went  over  the  list  of  names  lying  on  the 
desk  before  him  for  a  third  time,  carefully  run 
ning  down  the  column  with  his  finger.  Then  he 
leaned  back  in  his  chair  and  reflected.  The  single  light 
flooded  the  desk  and  cast  its  shadows  out  into  the  great 
office,  but  the  boy's  eyes  never  left  the  papers  before 
him. 

"  That's  mighty  strange,"  he  said  aloud.  "  I'll  bet 
Lady  Pat  got  it  straight,  but  if  she  did  that  list  ought 
to  show  it." 

He  leaned  forward  again  and '  turned  to  the  early 
pages.  "  Courtney,  Couscns,  Covell,  Covcney — Coving- 
ton  ought  to  come  in  right  there."  Then  he  turned 
the  pages  over  rapidly — "  Goodrich,  Goodspeed,  Good 
win,  Gordon,  Gore  —  there  isn't  any  Gorham  there, 
either." 

For  several  moments  he  sat  there  deep  in  thought. 
Suddenly  he  rose  and  struck  the  top  of  the  desk  a  re 
sounding  blow  with  his  fist. 

"  Chump !"  he  cried.  "  Of  course  he  didn't.  Oh,  I'm 
a  great  business  man,  I  am,  thinking  he'd  buy  those 
shares  in  his  own  name  or  in  Alice's.  It's  back  to  the 
dear  old  farm  for  me.  Chump !" 

He  restored  the  papers  to  their  proper  places,  picked 
up  Patricia's  bank,  which  lie  still  had  with  him,  turned 

[  234  ] 


THE      LEVER 


out  the  light,  and  then  tramped  down  the  long  flights 
of  stairs  to  work  off  his  excitement.  He  was  disappointed 
not  to  have  succeeded  in  this  first  attempt  to  prove  his 
suspicions,  but  he  found  some  consolation  in  the  certainty 
which  came  to  him,  even  in  the  face  of  this  defeat,  that 
he  was  on  the  right  track. 

For  the  next  few  days  more  immediate  matters  kept 
him  completely  occupied.  Gorham  told  him  enough  of 
what  had  happened  at  the  meeting  to  make  him  feel  at 
once  elated  and  concerned. 

"  You  were  right  to  a  degree,  my  boy,  and  I  give 
you  credit  for  it;  but  don't  think  for  a  moment  that 
there  is  going  to  be  any  change  in  the  administration 
of  the  Consolidated  Companies." 

"  You'll  have  a  hard  fight  on  your  hands,  Mr.  Gor 
ham.  They  aren't  the  kind  of  men  to  let  you  force 
them  any  longer  than  they  have  to." 

"  That  will  be  as  long  as  we  remain  associated  in  the 
corporation,"  Gorham  said,  with  conviction.  "  It  does 
mean  a  greater  burden  for  me  and  for  Covington  and 
for  you,  as  for  all  those  who  remain  loyal,  but  the  game 
is  worth  the  struggle.  This  is  what  makes  life  worth 
living,  boy.  Struggles  are  nothing — I've  had  them  al 
ways  ;  it's  only  the  lost  faith  which  slips  in  under  one's 
guard  and  stings." 

Allen  longed  to  ask  just  where  Covington  claimed  to 
stand,  but  he  dreaded  further  imputations  as  to  the 
motives  underlying  his  question.  Then,  later,  it  oc 
curred  to  him  that  he  might  take  advantage  of  the  new 
relations  created  by  Covington  himself.  Watching  his 
opportunity,  he  opened  up  the  subject  with  a  proper 
air  of  mystery. 

"  I  wish  you  would  advise  me,  Mr.  Covington." 
[235] 


THE      LEVER 


The  words  may  have  caused  surprise,  but  Covington 
turned  to  the  boy  as  though  his  remark  were  perfectly 
natural. 

"  I  shall  be  glad  to  if  I  can,"  he  said. 

"  You  see,  I  don't  quite  know  where  I  stand  just  now. 
There's  evidently  going  to  be  a  struggle  between  the 
chief  and  the  committee,  and  I'd  like  to  be  put  in  right. 
How  do  you  think  it's  going  to  turn  out?" 

Covington  did  not  doubt  the  sincerity  which  Allen's 
words  and  tone  apparently  expressed. 

"  There  is  only  one  possible  outcome,"  he  replied, 
frankly.  "  Mr.  Gorham  will  have  to  compromise  or  they 
will  find  a  way  to  take  his  power  away  from  him." 

"  But  you  don't  think  he  will,  do  you?" 

"  He's  bound  to.  No  man  except  a  fool  is  going  to 
let  his  ideals  rob  him  of  his  power,  and  Robert  Gorham 
is  no  fool." 

"  No,  but  those  ideals  are  pretty  well  developed." 

"  Of  course  they  are,  and  he  will  hold  to  them  as  long 
as  he  can ;  but  when  Litchficld  and  the  others  begin  to 
take  real  action,  as  they  will  soon,  he  will  see  things 
differently." 

"  Then  you  advise  me  to  stick  to  him?" 

Covington  looked  at  him  critically.  "  If  I  were  you," 
he  said,  carefully,  "  I  would  stick  to  the  Companies.  I 
am  with  him,  of  course,  but  the  clerks  have  no  special 
obligation  to  any  one.  You  have  been  closer  to  him  than 
the  others,  but  I  don't  suppose  that  is  any  reason  why 
you  shouldn't  look  out  for  yourself  if  a  break  comes. 
But  personally,  I'm  not  expecting  any  break." 

"  I  never  saw  any  one  cotton  so  to  anything  as  Mr. 
Gorham  does  to  those  ideals  of  his,"  Allen  continued. 
"  I  believe  he  talks  them  all  day  and  dreams  them  all 

[  236  ] 


THE     LEVER 


night.  It  would  break  his  heart  to  be  obliged  to  take 
back  water." 

Covington  laughed  at  the  boy's  simplicity.  "  Mr. 
Gorham  was  in  business  long  before  the  Consolidated 
Companies  was  born,  and  from  what  they  tell  me  he  was 
a  clever  one  even  back  there.  His  ideals  didn't  trouble 
him  any  then,  yet  he  succeeded.  He  figures  that  it  is 
necessary  for  him  to  test  his  strength  against  the  com 
mittee  at  this  point,  and  he  has  accomplished  all  he 
wants.  He  will  play  with  them  for  a  time,  and  eventually 
make  a  compromise  which  will  fool  them  into  thinking 
that  they  have  carried  their  point,  but  which  in  reality 
will  give  him  a  still  stronger  grip  on  the  Companies. 
Mr.  Gorham  has  taught  me  a  good  many  lessons,  not  the 
least  of  which  is  how  to  turn  ideals  into  business  assets. 
I  would  suggest  that  you  don't  give  yourself  a  great  deal 
of  anxiety  over  his  '  broken  heart.' ' 

Covington's  conversation  with  Allen  was  as  frank  and 
cordial  as  the  boy  could  have  asked,  yet  between  the 
two  there  was  a  barrier  beyond  which  Allen  could  not 
venture  to  pass.  But  the  ice  was  broken,  and  this  first 
conversation  which  approached  even  a  semblance  of 
friendliness  might  open  the  way  for  more  important 
conferences  in  the  future. 

Gorham,  during  these  days,  was  working  hard  to  dis 
cover  the  real  crux  in  Buckner's  affairs.  His  secret- 
service  men  supplied  him  with  a  detailed  record  of  the 
man's  history,  and  reported  frequent  interviews  between 
him  and  Levy  or  Levy's  agents.  Gorham  had  even 
seen  the  lawyer  himself,  but  gained  only  a  deeper  con 
viction  that  it  was  a  case  of  blackmail  for  revenue  only. 
Levy  laid  before  him  all  the  papers  in  the  case  with 
praiseworthy  frankness.  He  would  even  have  extended 

J237J 


THE      LEVER 


his  sympathy,  except  that  his  first  efforts  in  this  direc 
tion  had  not  been  received  in  the  spirit  he  thought  they 
should  have  been.  If  Buckner's  statement  was  correct, 
there  had  been  a  cruel  blunder  on  the  part  of  Eleanor's 
counsel ;  yet  unless  he  was  certain  of  his  ground,  Gorham 
could  not  comprehend  his  daring  to  place  himself  in  so 
dangerous  a  position.  Already  the  machinery  was  in 
motion  to  settle  this  point,  but  so  far  the  telegrams  from 
the  Colorado  lawyers  threw  no  light  on  the  situation. 
James  Riley  made  frequent  reports,  drawing  liberal  ex 
pense  accounts  each  time  he  called,  but  as  yet  no  single 
fact  had  been  unearthed  which  gave  any  promise  of 
relief.  Gorham  relished  an  open  fight,  but  this  guerilla 
warfare,  threatening  Eleanor's  happiness  and  peace  of 
mind,  caused  him  real  anxiety. 

Eleanor's  attitude  throughout  this  period  puzzled  him 
not  a  little.  The  more  he  thought  the  matter  over,  the 
more  convinced  he  was  that  she  was  right  in  her  posi 
tion  that  the  question  of  the  legality  of  the  divorce  must 
be  settled  once  and  for  all  and  at  whatever  cost.  There 
must  be  some  way  to  arrive  at  this  point  without  the 
necessity  of  a  public  trial,  but  even  if  it  came  to  that 
the  facts  must  be  established.  Yet  as  Gorham  gradually 
came  squarely  over  to  his  wife's  viewpoint,  Eleanor 
seemed  to  be  coming  nearer  to  accepting  the  one  which 
he  had  originally  advanced.  This  was  what  mystified 
him.  He  recognized  that  what  she  had  told  him,  when 
they  first  talked  the  matter  over,  was  the  natural  ex 
pression  of  the  woman's  self  which  he  knew  so  well ;  her 
later  attitude  showed  the  influence  of  some  factor  in 
her  life  unknown  to  him.  She  had  repeatedly  been 
on  the  point  of  confiding  to  him,  yet  the  confidence 
had  never  been  given,  and  Gorham  was  not  a  man 

[  23*  ] 


THE     LEVER 


who  could  urge  beyond  what  it  was  her  voluntary  desire 
to  speak. 

It  never  had  occurred  to  him  to  take  offence  or  to 
criticise  Eleanor's  attitude.  He  wished  that  she  would 
come  to  him  with  the  burden  which  lay  so  heavily  upon 
her  heart,  but  he  wished  it  only  because  he  felt  that  he 
could  lighten  it.  Ever  since  the  cloud  had  become  ap 
parent,  his  tenderness  toward  her  had  increased  to  such 
an  extent  that  she  felt  herself  weakened  by  his  sympathy 
and  swept  along  relentlessly  by  the  flood  of  events  which 
crowded  one  on  top  of  another.  He  had  told  her  that 
there  should  be  no  trial,  and  she  showed  him  by  every 
word  and  act  that  she  depended  blindly  upon  his  ability 
to  make  good  his  promise. 

The  calm  which  existed  at  the  offices  of  the  Con 
solidated  Companies  during  the  fortnight  succeeding 
the  stormy  session  of  the  committee,  while  unexpected, 
did  not  lull  Gorham  into  any  false  sense  of  security. 
Now  that  his  vision  had  been  cleared,  he  knew  that  it 
was  their  strength  pitted  against  his  own.  He  had  his 
own  plans  for  meeting  this,  but  with  supreme  confidence 
in  himself  he  preferred  to  let  them  make  the  first  move. 
Covington  had  not  retreated  from  his  position  that  a 
compromise  of  some  sort  was  desirable,  but  he  succeeded 
in  convincing  Gorham  that  this  was  simply  a  difference 
in  viewpoint,  and  that  his  chiefs  judgment  would,  of 
course,  be  final.  Acting  upon  the  definite  authority  which 
Gorham  had  forced  from  the  committee  to  replace  the 
tacit  understanding  which  had  existed  from  the  first,  he 
plunged  ahead  with  renewed  energy  to  perfect  the  or 
ganizations  which  the  Companies  had  in  hand.  But 
while  conscious  that  his  associates  were  undoubtedly  con 
centrating  their  energies  upon  some  plan  which  might 

[239] 


THE      LEVER 


be  used  effectively  against  him,  he  was  grateful  for  the 
postponement  of  the  issue,  in  that  it  gave  him  time  to 
work  upon  his  present  domestic  problem. 

Covington  congratulated  himself  upon  the  happy  solu 
tion  of  the  most  dangerous  horn  of  his  dilemma.  He 
did  not  wish  Gorham  to  yield,  and  he  found  that  the 
more  he  urged  him  to  compromise,  the  more  firmly  set  he 
was  against  doing  it.  Thus  he  could  accomplish  his  pur 
pose,  and  at  the  same  time  put  himself  on  record  with 
out  risk  of  being  called  disloyal,  while  advising  him  for 
his  own  best  good.  The  others  were  working  hard,  and 
Covington  could  have  posted  his  chief  upon  many  in 
teresting  points  had  he  chosen  to  do  so.  Instead,  he 
preferred  to  bring  added  pressure  upon  Alice  to  name 
an  early  date  for  their  wedding.  He  seemed  to  have 
overlooked  the  fact  that  as  yet  she  had  not  given  him  her 
formal  consent,  but  as  the  event  was  apparently  ac 
cepted  by  her  father  and  Eleanor  and  Covington  himself 
as  a  foregone  conclusion,  the  girl  took  no  definite  ex 
ceptions  to  his  attitude.  He  was,  of  course,  aware  of  the 
family  complications,  and,  in  expressing  his  sympathy, 
explained  that  he  could  be  of  much  greater  assistance 
in  helping  to  straighten  matters  out  if  he  were  actually 
included  in  the  family  circle. 

But  Covington,  with  all  his  astuteness,  was  frankly 
surprised  by  a  piece  of  information  which  one  of  the 
committee  confided  to  him ;  and  this  was  nothing  less 
than  that  unquestionable  evidence  had  been  secured  that 
Gorham  himself  had,  at  least  in  one  instance,  taken  ad 
vantage  of  his  position  for  personal  gain.  What  this 
instance  was  his  informant  could  not  at  that  moment  say 
— the  facts  were  being  carefully  compiled,  but  the  evi 
dence  was  beyond  dispute.  This  autocrat,  who  talked 

[240] 


THE     LEVER 


of  principle  and  honor,  had  been  caught  red-handed  in 
the  very  act  against  which  he  pretended  to  stand ;  and,  of 
course,  this  instance  was  but  one  of  many.  Doctor  Jekyll 
could  take  it  upon  himself  to  deliver  platitudes  upon 
moral  rectitude,  while  Mr.  Hyde  gathered  in  the  shekels 
on  the  side ! 

The  members  of  the  Executive  Committee  were  hugely 
pleased,  and  Covington  no  less  so.  All  was  playing  into 
his  hands  with  surprising  directness,  and  he  even  began 
to  feel  that  his  approaching  marriage  into  Mr.  Gorham's 
family  was  an  act  of  supreme  sacrifice  on  his  part.  Still, 
it  were  better  to  safeguard  both  exits  to  the  house,  and 
Alice  was  an  amusing  little  minx,  after  all. 
16 


XXIV 


THE  elder  Riley  felt  the  tenseness  in  the  atmosphere 
of  the  Gorhani  family,  and  his  inability  to  discover 
the  occasion  for  it  proved  trying  to  his  soul.     The 
mysterious   visits   of  his   son   James,   and  the   apparent 
confidences  between  him  and  his  employer,  made  the  old 
man  feel  strongly  that,  if  James  were  not  a  part  of  the 
new  condition,  at  least  he  was  acquainted  with  the  cause. 
Patience  with  Riley  had  ceased  to  be  a  virtue,  and  he  so 
contrived  it  that  he  passed  an  evening  with  his  son  at  the 
latter's  lodgings. 

Much  to  his  relief,  he  found  James  in  an  unusually 
agreeable  mood;  and,  although  the  younger  man  made 
no  effort  to  move  from  the  comfortable  position  he  had 
assumed  with  the  assistance  of  an  extra  chair  for  his 
feet,  the  welcome  extended  was  far  more  cordial  than  that 
to  which  the  elder  Riley  was  accustomed. 

"  Well,  well,  well,"  the  old  man  ejaculated,  as  he 
closed  the  door  and  stood  for  a  moment  contemplating 
the  scene  before  him.  James  smiled  complacently  at  the 
look  of  mingled  surprise  and  admiration  his  father  so 
plainly  showed,  as  his  eye  roved  from  the  new  pieces  of 
gaudy  furniture  to  the  box  of  cigars  upon  the  table, 
particularly  noting  the  attitude  which  the  son  assumed 
as  the  nearest  he  could  imagine  to  that  of  a  gentleman 
in  repose. 

[242] 


THE      LEVER 


"  Well,  well,  well,"  Riley  repeated,  coming  down  to 
earth  again,  and  seating  himself  upon  a  near-by  chair 
not  required  for  James's  feet,  which  the  host  had  been 
too  preoccupied  to  think  of  offering.  "  Things  is  comin' 
good  f'r  ye,  ain't  they,  Jimmie?" 

The  old  man  had  discovered  a  fact  which  James  had 
no  desire  to  dispute,  so  he  admitted  it  graciously,  at  the 
same  time  blowing  clouds  of  smoke  from  his  over-fragrant 
cigar. 

"  They  is,"  he  replied,  sententiously  ;  "  and  soon  they'll 
be  comin'  better  still." 

"  Ah,  Jimmie  "  —the  old  man  lowered  his  voice — "  are 
ye  goin'  ter  run  f'r  mayor?" 

"  Not — yet,"  James  replied,  dwelling  upon  his  words 
in  such  a  way  as  to  convince  his  hearer  that  the  delay 
was  wholly  a  matter  of  his  own  convenience.  "  Politics 
is  movin'  some,  father,  but  'tis  in  my  private  capacity 
that  I'm  makin'  my  present  strides." 

"  So,"  murmured  Riley ;  "  an'  phwat  may  ye'er  private 
capacity  be,  Jimmie?" 

"  'Tis  of  a  confidential  nature,"  he  replied,  loftily. 

"  Has  it  ter  do  wid  Misther  Robert?" 

"  Him — and  others." 

"  Who  is  th'  others  ?"  the  old  man  persisted. 

"  That's  my  affair.     'Tis  confidential,  I  tell  you." 

"  Not  wid  me,  Jimmie,"  Riley  begged ;  "  not  when 
I've  watched  over  Misther  Robert  iver  sence  he  was  a 
little  la-ad,  not  wid  me  when  I've  brought  ye  up  fr'm 
a  howlin'  little  brat.  There  can't  be  nothin'  confidential, 
I  tell  ye,  when  it's  affectin'  thim  I  loves  best  in  all  th' 
whole  wide  world.  Shure  ye'll  tell  me  about  it,  Jimmie, 
shure  ye  will." 

In  James's  present  mood,  it  was  easier  to  talk  than  to 

[  243  ] 


THE      LEVER 


keep  silent.  If  his  father  really  knew  the  importance  of 
the  part  he  felt  himself  to  be  playing  in  Mr.  Gorham's 
family  complication,  the  old  man's  appreciation  of  his 
son's  true  position  in  the  community  could  not  fail  to 
be  enhanced.  James  Riley's  most  vulnerable  point  was 
his  vanity,  and  the  present  opportunity  to  gratify  it 
was  more  than  he  could  well  resist.  The  elder  Riley, 
without  having  analyzed  his  son's  characteristics  to  this 
extent,  was  intuitively  conscious  of  a  yielding  to  his  ap 
peal,  and  he  was  not  slow  to  follow  it  up. 

"  That's  th'  good  la-ad,  Jimmie,"  he  said,  coaxingly. 
"  Ye  knows  how  tight  I  keeps  me  mouth  shut ;  an'  phwat 
hits  ye  or  Misther  Robert  hits  me." 

"  Well,"  James  replied,  indulgently,  blowing  another 
cloud  of  smoke — "  'tis  his  wife  that  it's  all  about." 

"  His  wife !"  the  old  man  repeated,  surprised  and  ex 
cited — "  about  Mrs.  Gorham,  d'ye  say  ?" 

"  That  is — provided  she  is  his  wife.  There  is  them 
that  says  she  ain't." 

"Who  says  she  ain't?"  Riley  almost  shouted  the 
words  as  he  rose  excitedly  to  his  feet.  "  Who  says  she 
ain't?  By  God,  I'll  kill  th'  man  phwat  says  that!" 

"  Slowly,  slowly,"  James  answered,  soothingly,  thor 
oughly  enjoying  his  father's  amazement  and  excitement. 
"  That's  for  them  to  settle  as  knows  how,  but  it's  to  me 
Mr.  Gorham  must  look  to  help  him  out.  Now,  do  you 
understand  where  I  come  in?" 

"  Ah,  Jimmie,  ye're  killin'  me  wid  yer  slowness.  Out 
wid  it,  la-ad!  What  do  they  say,  an'  who  done  phwat? 
Out  wid  it !" 

"  The  divorce  was  crooked,  so  they  say ;  and  now 
her  first  husband  is  here  in  New  York  and  wants  her 
back." 

[244] 


THE      LEVER 


"  But  it  ain't  true,  Jimmie — it  ain't  true ;  tell  me 
that." 

"  I  don't  know  yet  myself,"  James  admitted ;  "  but 
there's  a  few  things  I  do  know  what  ought  to  be  worth 
the  coin  to  Mr.  Gorham." 

"  An'  ye're  goin'  ter  give  'em  ter  him?" 

"  Perhaps,"  James  replied,  indifferently  — "  if  he 
thinks  they're  worth  what  I  do." 

"  But  Misther  Robert  has  paid  ye  already,  hasn't  he? 
Hasn't  these  new  prosperity  things  come  out  iv  Misther 
Robert's  pay?" 

"  He's  got  what  he's  paid  for,"  James  asserted. 
"  These  new  tips  come  to  me  while  I  was  workin'  on 
my  own  account.  They're  worth  the  coin  to  either 
side." 

"  That's  phwat  ye  meant  when  ye  said  there  was  more 
prosperity  comin'?" 

"Sure." 

"  An'  if  Misther  Robert  don't  pay  ye  ye'er  price, 
ye'll  sell  'em  ter  th'  other  feller  who  says  his  wife  ain't 
his  wife?" 

"  Business  is  business,"  James  replied,  sagely. 

The  elder  Riley's  lips  came  close  together  as  he  rose 
quietly  yet  quickly  from  his  chair.  In  a  moment  more 
he  had  seized  James  by  the  collar,  and  with  a  sudden, 
violent  action,  made  easier  by  the  recumbent  attitude, 
deposited  the  younger  man  in  a  heap  on  the  floor.  Too 
surprised  by  the  unexpectedness  of  the  attack,  James 
made  no  defence,  and  before  he  could  even  attempt  to 
rise  from  his  humiliating  position  the  old  man  stood  over 
him,  shaking  his  fist  in  his  face. 

"  Ye  damn  dirty  spalpeen,  lie  there  f'r  a  time,  will 
ye?  I'll  break  ivery  bone  in  ye'er  body  if  ye  even  make 

[245] 


THE      LEVER 


a  move  tor  git  up.  Do  ye  think  I've  spint  me  life  f'r 
nothin'  better  than  ter  rear  up  a  blackmailer  an'  th'  like 
iv  ye?  Do  ye  think  me  an'  th'  ol'  woman,  God  rist 
her  soul,  slaved  th'  flesh  off  our  bones  f'r  nothin'  better 
than  ter  raise  a  brat  who'd  sell  th'  man  whose  hand  was 
always  out  f'r  me  an'  mine?  It's  ye'cr  fa-ather  talkin' 
ter  ye  now,  James  Rile}',  an'  it's  ye'cr  fa-ather  who's 
goin'  ter  scrape  off  some  iv  thim  fine  airs  thim  Tammany 
thieves  an'  blacklegs  has  learned  ye.  It's  manny  th' 
time  I've  licked  ye  good,  Jimmie,  wrhen  ye  was  a  la-ad, 
an'  it's  agin  I'll  do  it  if  I  has  ter,  ter  learn  ye  honesty. 
Now  git  up  an'  set  in  that  chair  an'  do  phwat  I  tell  ye, 
if  ye  know  phwat's  best  f'r  ye." 

James  Rilcy  rose  from  the  floor  and  sat  obediently  in 
the  chair  his  father  indicated.  Had  he  chosen  to  assert 
his  strength,  the  elder  man  would  have  been  but  a  child 
in  opposition ;  but  the  fire  which  flashed  from  those  angry 
eyes,  and  the  tone  in  which  his  father's  scathing  castiga- 
tion  was  administered,  took  him  back  twenty  years  when 
the  same  angry  flash  and  the  same  convincing  tones  were 
backed  up  by  a  physical  force  which  made  them  worthy 
of  respect.  James  Riley  was  again  the  offending  boy, 
and  his  father — stern,  severe,  unrelenting  in  his  own 
ideas  of  right  and  wrong — held  him  in  a  grip  he  could 
not  break. 

"  Set  there,  damn  ye,"  the  elder  Riley  repeated,  breath 
ing  hard  from  excitement  and  from  the  unusual  exertion. 
"  Now  tell  me  phwat  ye  found  out  when  ye  was  workin' 
on  ye'er  own  account." 

James  tried  desperately  to  summon  courage  enough 
to  oppose  his  father's  will,  but  to  no  avail. 

"  I've  mixed  a  bit  with  Buckner — the  first  husband — 
that's  all." 

[246] 


THE     LEVER 


"  An'  phwat  did  ye  find  out  ?"  Riley  demanded, 
sternly. 

James  hesitated. 

"  Out  wid  it !"  the  old  man  shouted. 

"  He's  been  married  again  since." 

"  Ah,  ha !  th'  feller  phwat  says  me  Misther  Robert's 
wife  ain't  his  wife,  'cause  th'  divorce  warn't  reg'lar,  has 
been  married  agin,  has  he?"  Riley's  good-humor  began 
to  return  with  this  cheerful  bit  of  information.  "  Then 
that  makes  him  a  liar  or  a  Mormon — take  ye'er  choice. 
Which  do  ye  think  it  is,  Jimmie?" 

"  Liar,"  James  replied,  sententiously. 

"  Right  ye  are,  Jimmie !  Right  ye  are !  Liar  it  is, 
tho'  'twud  serve  him  right  ter  be  th'  other.  An'  where's 
his  second  wife?" 

"  That's  what's  a-worryin'  him ;  he  don't  know." 

"Ah,  ha!"  Riley  chuckled,  "why  shouldn't  it?  It's 
bad  enough  when  th'  wife  don't  know  where  ye  are,  but 
when  ye  don't  know  where  th'  wife  is  an'  her  apt  ter 
turn  up  anny  minnit !  Ah,  let  him  worry ;  it's  good  f 'r 
him.  What  else  did  ye  find  out  by  ye'er  mixin's?" 

"  That's  all,  so  far,  hut  I  can  get  more.  Buckner 
likes  me." 

The  old  man's  passing  amusement  was  gone,  and  his 
indignation  returned  with  full  force. 

"  P'r'aps  ye  can  git  th'  likin's  iv  a  man  who  says  me 
Misther  Robert's  wife  ain't  his  wife,  but  'twill  be  healthier 
f'r  ye  if  ye  gits  th'  likin's  iv  Misther  Robert  himself. 
Now,  ye'll  go  ter  him  to-morrer  mornin' — d'ye  mind — 
an'  ye'll  tell  him  all  ye've  tol'  me,  an'  there  won't  be  no 
price  asked,  an'  ye'll  keep  on  findin'  out  all  ye  can  Pr 
Misther  Robert,  an'  ye'll  play  fair,  an'  ye'll  take  phwat 
pay  he  chooses  ter  give  vc,  an'  if  ye  thry  annv  more 

[247] 


THE     LEVER 


thricks  like  th'  dirty  wan  I've  just  catched  ye  wid  I'll 
be  back  ter  see  ye,  James  Riley,  an'  I'll  break  ivery  damn 
bone  in  yc'er  body,  James  Riley.  Now,  good-night  ter 
ye  an'  ye'er  prosperities.  I'll  tell  Misther  Robert  ye'll 
be  up  ter  see  him  at  nine  o'clock  to-morrer  mornin'." 

The  old  man  drew  himself  up  majestically,  cast  one 
more  withering  glance  on  the  completely  humiliated 
James,  and  took  his  departure. 

The  next  morning  nine  had  not  ceased  striking  on 
the  clock  standing  on  the  mantelpiece  in  Mr.  Gorham's 
study  when  James  Riley  was  formally  and  seriously 
ushered  by  his  father  into  these,  the  sacred  precincts, 
where  none  entered  except  by  its  owner's  invitation ;  but 
it  was  a  far  different  James  from  the  man  who  had 
called  upon  Mr.  Gorham  some  weeks  earlier.  The 
younger  Riley's  self-assurance  was  missing,  his  jaunty 
air  was  replaced  by  a  bearing  almost  timid  in  its  gentle 
ness,  his  voice  had  become  halty ;  and  when  Mr.  Gorham 
first  spoke  to  him  he  started  suddenly,  turning  his  face 
toward  his  questioner,  and  showing  apprehension  in  every 
feature. 

Gorham  noticed  the  change,  and,  being  ignorant  of 
the  tragic  events  of  the  evening  before,  was  frankly 
surprised. 

"  Have  you  been  ill,  James?"  he  inquired,  quietly. 

"  Oh,  no,  sir — I'm  feeling  very  well,  I  thank  you,  sir," 
James  answered  in  a  quick,  frightened  voice. 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  it,"  Gorham  answered,  but  his 
tone  suggested  incredulity. 

"  I  have  been  some  worrited  lately,"  James  added,  by 
way  of  explanation.  "  I  s'pose  you  knows  how  that  tells 
on  a  feller,  sir." 

[248] 


THE      LEVER 


"  Yes,  James,"  Gorham  agreed.  "  It  comes  to  all  of 
us  sooner  or  later.  Now  tell  me  what  is  the  important 
information  which  your  father  promised  me  you  would 
bring  with  you  ?" 

"  Hasn't  he  told  you,  sir?" 

"  Not  a  word,  James.  Has  it  to  do  with  the  matter 
you  have  been  working  on  for  me,  or  is  it  some  trouble 
of  your  own  which  has  caused  the  worry  you  speak  of?" 

James  was  seated  on  the  edge  of  his  chair  with  his  thin 
hands  folded  and  resting  on  his  knees.  His  eyes  roved 
about  the  room,  looking  anywhere  except  into  Mr.  Gor- 
ham's  face.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  he  had  in  reality  passed 
through  some  "  worrited  "  times  since  his  father's  call, 
and  his  humiliation  was  complete.  It  was  a  relief  to 
him  to  know  that  his  father  had  not  discussed  the  matter 
with  Mr.  Gorham,  but  even  that  consolation  was  not 
equal  to  the  task  of  restoring  him  to  his  former  equi- 
nimity. 

"  Well,"  interrogated  Mr.  Gorham,  helpfully,  striv 
ing  to  assist  him  in  what  was  evidently  a  serious  under 
taking. 

"  You  see,  sir,"  James  began,  "  there's  another  Mrs. 
Buckner." 

"  What !"  cried  Gorham,  genuinely  surprised  and  ris 
ing  from  his  chair.  "  Buckner  has  been  married  again, 
you  say?" 

"  That's  what  I  understand,  sir ;  leastwise  that's  what 
he  told  me.  He  was  drunk  when  he  said  it,  and  perhaps 
that's  why  he  did  say  it ;  but  I  believe  it's  true." 

James  had  the  satisfaction  of  witnessing  a  sight  which 
few  men  had  seen  during  Mr.  Gorham's  lifetime — he 
was  visibly  excited,  and,  what  was  stranger  still,  he  made 
no  effort  to  conceal  his  emotion. 

[  249  ] 


THE     LEVER 


"  If  there  is  anything  in  what  you  say,  James,  this 
information  is  the  most  cheering  piece  of  news  which  I 
have  heard  for  many  a  day.  Now  tell  me  all  you  know 
about  it." 

In  another  half-hour  James  Riley  was  painfully  mak 
ing  his  way  to  the  nearest  subway  station,  giving  no 
indication,  either  in  his  face  or  in  his  movements,  as  to 
whether  the  result  of  his  mission  had  turned  out  more 
or  less  favorably,  in  its  financial  probabilities,  than  would 
have  been  the  case  had  he  followed  his  original  intentions. 
He  had  found  his  father  waiting  for  him  in  the  front 
hall  after  he  came  down-stairs  from  Mr.  Gorham's  li 
brary,  but  the  only  remark  the  old  man  vouchsafed  was, 
"  Have  ye  done  phwat  I  told  ye,  Jimmie?"  Then  the 
door  swung  upon  its  hinges  while  the  younger  man  went 
out,  leaving  his  father  chuckling  softly. 

"  Jimmie's  th'  fine  la-ad,  afther  all,"  Riley  muttered 
quietly  to  himself.  "  He  has  th'  temptations  same  as 
we  all  has,  but  he  seen  his  duty  when  his  fa-ather  shown 
it  ter  him."  Then  the  old  man  became  reflective.  "  It's 
sorry  I'd  'a'  been  ter  have  had  ter  mess  Jimmie  all  up," 
he  continued — "  but  I'd  V  done  it.  It's  lucky  f'r  him 
he  didn't  show  fight;  it's  lucky  f'r  him,  I'm  tellin' 

ye." 

In  the  mean  time  Gorham  had  sought  Eleanor  and 
Alice,  and  told  them  the  news  which  had  come  to  him 
so  unexpectedly.  The  problem  now  was  to  find  the  sec 
ond  Mrs.  Buckner,  and  as  quickly  as  possible.  James 
had  explained  to  Mr.  Gorham  that  even  Buckner  him 
self  did  not  know  where  the  woman  was.  He  had  lived 
in  several  cities  during  the  last  few  years.  His  wife 
might  have  died  or  moved  awav;  but  as  Gorham  pointed 
out  in  answer  to  the  doubts  Eleanor  and  his  daughter 

[  250  ] 


THE      LEVER 


expressed,  if  it  was  a  fact,  there  must  be  a  way  to  find 
conclusive  evidence. 

"  I  cannot  delay  a  moment,"  Gorham  at  length  de 
clared.  "  It  will  take  some  time  at  best  to  run  this  mat 
ter  down,  and  with  the  certainty  so  near  at  hand  to 
prove  our  fears  groundless,  I  am  all  impatience  to 
take  steps  toward  securing  the  actual  evidence  itself. 
It  is  imperative  that  I  leave  for  Chicago  to-morrow, 
and  I  must  get  this  investigation  under  way  before 
then." 

Eleanor  and  Alice  sat  for  some  moments  in  silence 
after  Gorham  left  the  house.  The  girl  watched  the  older 
woman,  waiting  for  her  to  speak.  The  anxious  lines 
were  still  in  Eleanor's  face;  her  pallor  remained,  and 
Alice  wondered  that  she  gave  no  evidence  of  relief  from 
the  nerve-racking  strain  which  she  had  endured,  in  the 
face  of  so  hopeful  a  turn  in  the  whole  situation.  Still 
more,  to  the  girl's  surprise,  Eleanor  rose  abruptly  from 
beside  her,  and  walked  irresolutely  to  the  window. 

"  I  cannot,  I  cannot,"  she  cried  at  last,  all  the  pent- 
up  feeling  of  the  last  few  moments  finding  expression  in 
these  brief  words.  Alice  was  quickly  beside  her. 

"  You  cannot  do  what,  dear?"  she  asked,  sympa 
thetically. 

"  I  cannot  tell  him." 

"  Haven't  you  told  him  yet?"  Alice  asked,  a  shade  of 
reproach  showing  in  her  voice. 

Eleanor  turned  from  the  window  and  passed  her  arm 
around  Alice's  waist. 

"  I  have  tried  a  hundred  times.  The  few  oppor 
tunities  when  I  might  have  done  so  naturally  found  me 
too  weak ;  at  other  times  it  has  been  impossible.  Robert 
is  so  sweet  and  tender  with  me  these  days  that  the  mere 

[251] 


THE      LEVER 


possibility  of  having  him  blame  me  is  the  most  terrifying 
thought  which  I  can  have." 

"  It  ought  not  to  be  so  hard  now,  dear.  Everything 
is  going  to  be  straightened  out.  Already  the  burden  is 
a  good  deal  lighter  than  before  because  now  we  have 
something  tangible  to  work  upon.  This  leaves  you  sim 
ply  the  one  thing  to  think  about,  and  of  course  father 
will  believe  everything  you  tell  him." 

Eleanor  looked  at  Alice  irresolutely.  "  It  isn't  in  the 
nature  of  man  to  be  so  credulous — I  doubt  if  I  would 
believe  the  story  myself  if  I  heard  any  one  else  tell  it. 
Under  these  circumstances,  how  can  I  expect  more  from 
your  father?" 

"  Because  it  is — father,"  the  girl  replied,  feelingly — 
"  because  he's  the  grandest,  noblest,  truest  man  who  ever 
lived ;  because  he  loves  you,  Eleanor ;  and  because  he 
believes  in  you  as  he  believes  in  himself." 

"  If  I  did  not  know  of  this  belief  in  me,  Alice  dear, 
and  was  not  so  jealous  of  it,  perhaps  I  should  not  fear 
to  bring  the  matter  to  the  test.  But,  of  course,  you  are 
right.  He  must  know  the  whole  story,  and  he  must 
know  it  from  me.  I  only  hope  that  the  opportunity  may 
offer  itself  naturally  for  me  to  tell  him,  under  such  con 
ditions  as  will  make  it  appear  less  incredible  than  it  does 
just  now." 

"  It  doesn't  seem  to  me  that  that  ought  to  enter  into 
it  at  all,"  Alice  continued,  quietly.  "  Even  if  you  knew 
that  it  would  destroy  this  belief,  you  could  do  nothing 
else  than  tell  him,  could  you,  Eleanor?  There  could  be 
nothing  good  come  from  anything  kept  from  father." 

Eleanor  felt  reproached  by  the  faith  which  the  girl 
exhibited.  "  I  have  done  it  to  spare  him,"  she  urged. 
"  If  there  had  been  anything  in  the  experience  of  which 

[252] 


THE      LEVER 


I  need  feel  ashamed,  I  should  have  felt  it  necessary  to 
let  him  know  it  before  we  were  married.  I  thought  it 
all  over  then,  and  decided  it  was  wiser  not  to  bring  the 
matter  up.  It  was  weak  and  cowardly  not  to  do  it,  I 
can  see  that  now,  but  at  the  time  I  thought  I  was  acting 
for  the  best." 

"  If  father  were  to  tell  you  something  about  his  life 
which  seemed  incredible,  and  which  might  be  misinter 
preted  into  something  dishonorable  to  him,  would  you 
believe  his  version  of  it?" 

"  Implicitly,"  Eleanor  replied,  with  much  feeling. 

"  Then  do  you  think  he  is  less  loving  or  less  tender 
or  has  less  faith  than  you,  Eleanor?" 

"  Not  that,  dear,"  Eleanor  replied ;  "  but  he  is  a  man, 
and  a  man's  standpoint  is  essentially  different  from  a 
woman's." 

"  I  never  think  of  him  as  a  man,"  the  girl  replied, 
simply.  "  He  is  so  far  above  and  beyond  any  man  I 
have  ever  known  that  I  have  never  thought  of  him  as 
only  that." 


XXV 


A  WEEK  later  the  Gorhams'  dinner-table  received 
two  unexpected  additions.  Gorlmm  had  returned 
from  Chicago  earlier  in  the  day,  and  found  a  tele 
gram  awaiting  him  which  announced  that  Senator  Ken- 
more  would  call  at  his  house  at  five  o'clock  that  after 
noon.  As  he  was  unable  to  complete  his  work  upon  the 
accumulated  matters  which  demanded  immediate  atten 
tion,  he  put  the  papers  into  his  bag,  and  took  Allen  with 
him  to  the  house  in  time  to  keep  his  appointment  with 
the  Senator,  intending  to  continue  his  day's  labors  after 
his  caller  had  departed. 

During  the  weeks  which  had  elapsed  since  Gorham's 
conversation  with  Allen,  the  boy's  attitude  toward  him 
manifested  a  respect  so  marked  that  the  older  man  saw 
in  it  an  effort  to  atone  for  his  momentary  disloyalty ; 
in  his  work  he  was  devoted  and  exact  to  a  degree  beyond 
anything  he  had  previously  demonstrated ;  inwardly  he 
was  the  investigator.  Never  had  he  put  himself  through 
so  merciless  a  self-examination.  He  felt  keenly  Alice's 
misunderstanding  of  his  dislike  of  business;  he  blamed 
himself  for  having  spoken  so  freely  to  Mr.  Gorham  be 
fore  he  had  fully  satisfied  himself  that  the  doubts  he 
expressed  at  that  time  were  based  on  anything  beyond 
inexperience  and  a  lack  of  knowledge.  He  knew  that 
he  had  committed  an  error  in  accusing  Covington  before 

1254] 


THE      LEVER 


he  could  substantiate  his  statements.  He  was  glad,  there 
fore,  to  be  able  to  work  this  all  out  in  his  own  mind 
during  the  absence  of  his  chief,  yet  when  Mr.  Gorham 
returned,  the  boy  was  still  further  embarrassed  by  his 
special  kindliness  toward  him. 

Kenmore's  face  wore  a  worried  expression  as  he  entered 
the  hall  soon  after  Gorham  and  Allen  arrived.  He  was 
shown  at  once  to  the  library,  where  he  and  Gorham  passed 
the  next  two  hours  in  close  conference.  Indeed,  the 
discussion  was  sufficiently  important  to  hold  Kenmore 
longer  than  he  expected,  and  to  cause  Gorham  to  break 
over  a  rule  which  he  had  never  before  violated,  in  dis 
cussing  business  matters  at  the  dinner-table  and  in  the 
presence  of  his  family. 

The  thought  had  come  to  Gorham,  as  he  was  rushing 
along  toward  New  York  on  the  limited  express,  of  the 
rapidity  with  which  events  had  shaped  themselves  since 
that  moment,  only  a  few  weeks  earlier,  when  he  had  sat 
in  his  library  indulging  in  day-dreams.  James  Riley 
had  come  first,  with  his  news  of  Buckner's  presence  in 
New  York ;  then  Allen  called,  bringing  his  suspicions 
concerning  the  attitude  of  those  trusted  in  the  affairs 
of  the  corporation,  adding  his  own  unexpected  and  un 
warranted  doubts  as  to  the  integrity  of  Covington  and 
the  morality  of  this  company,  which  to  its  creator  had 
seemed  to  embody  every  idealistic  and  altruistic  prin 
ciple  ;  then  Litchfield,  at  the  meeting  of  the  committee, 
substantiated  to  a  considerable  extent  Allen's  deep-seated 
conviction  that  the  men  who  made  up  the  fibre  of  the 
corporation  were  actuated  by  selfish  motives  in  their  rela 
tions  to  it  and  to  its  transactions,  thus  making  the  situa 
tion  even  more  acute.  James  Riley  later  had  brought 
him  the  first  definite  ray  of  hope  in  what  promised  a 

*  [  255  ] 


THE      LEVER 


solution  of  his  domestic  tangle ;  but  as  the  burden  light 
ened  on  the  one  hand,  it  seemed  to  bear  him  down  with 
added  weight  on  the  other.  Senator  Hunt,  urged  on 
by  Brady  and  other  powerful  interests,  was  working 
against  the  Consolidated  Companies  with  an  energy 
which  would  have  done  him  credit  had  it  owed  its  origin 
to  his  appreciation  of  the  responsibilities  of  his  public 
duties.  Now,  Kcnmorc's  description  of  the  situation  at 
Washington  left  no  room  for  doubt  that  for  the  first 
time  Gorharn  must  admit  the  assailability  of  the  Com 
panies.  After  the  two  hours'  interview,  Gorham  could 
not  fail  to  recognize  that  the  one  thing  which  showed 
above  all  else  in  Kenmore's  attitude,  was  his  anxiety  lest 
the  threatened  adverse  position  on  the  part  of  the  Gov 
ernment  toward  the  Companies  should  result  in  a  loss 
of  his  own  future  profits.  Could  it  be  possible,  Gorham 
asked,  inwardly,  that  Allen  was  right  in  saying  that  he 
himself  was  the  only  man  in  the  corporation  who  lived 
up  to  the  ideals  he  expressed ! 

"  Next  Tuesday  is  the  critical  day,"  the  Senator  re 
peated  at  the  table,  all  other  conversation  giving  way 
to  the  matter  which  he  had  so  strongly  upon  his  mind. 
"  The  Attorney-General  was  not  far  wrong  when  he  told 
us  in  Washington  that  there  was  not  the  slightest  pos 
sibility  of  passing  any  bill  through  either  House  which 
could  accomplish  the  results  which  the  President  desires, 
and  yet  I  cannot  believe  that  the  position  which  the 
Administration  has  taken  will  be  overridden." 

"  If  we  can  get  the  bill  through  the  Senate,  do  you 
think  there  will  be  the  same  difficulty  in  the  House?" 
asked  Gorham. 

"  No,"  Kenmore  responded ;  "  the  Congressmen  are 
more  eager  to  serve  their  constituents.  The  people  are 

[  256  ] 


THE      LEVER 


still  with  us,  and  Congress  knows  it.  In  the  Senate, 
however,  they  are  playing  for  bigger  game.  The  great 
interests  there  hope  to  divert  attention  from  themselves 
to  the  Consolidated  Companies,  and  if  they  can  secure 
legislation  which  will  operate  against  us  they  think  that 
the  people  will  so  resent  it  that  it  will  probably  put  a 
stop,  for  the  present  at  least,  to  all  agitation  against 
consolidations,  good  or  bad.  It  is  a  clever  game,  and 
they  are  playing  it  well." 

"  We  must  not  let  them  play  it  better  than  ourselves," 
Gorham  replied,  decisively. 

"  We  are  working  hard,  Gorham,"  the  Senator  replied. 
"  That  was  a  great  move  of  yours,  having  each  stock 
holder  invest  in  the  Consolidated  Companies  to  such  an 
extent  that  it  made  the  welfare  of  the  corporation  a  mat 
ter  of  personal  concern.  Those  of  us  who  are  stock 
holders  are  fighting  for  our  lives,  and  the  Companies  is 
getting  the  benefit  of  it." 

"  So  is  the  public,"  Gorham  replied,  quickly,  re 
gretting  particularly  the  turn  the  conversation  had 
taken  owing  to  Allen's  presence,  and  noting  the  expres 
sion  on  the  boy's  face.  "  You  and  our  other  colleagues 
in  the  Senate  are  fighting  for  the  people,  and  the  right 
is  bound  to  win." 

Kenmore  laughed  nervously.  "  I  don't  know  that  it 
makes  much  difference  what  you  call  it,"  he  replied. 
"  We  are  fighting  all  right,  and  the  result  is  bound  to 
be  the  same  whether  it  is  for  the  people  or  for  ourselves. 
You  won't  fail  us  next  Tuesday,  Gorham?  If  you  can 
turn  the  tide  in  our  favor,  you  will  accomplish  the  great 
est  stroke  in  your  career." 

"  I  shall  be  there,"  Gorham  replied,  and  with  deliber 
ate  intent  turned  the  conversation  into  general  channels. 
17  [  257  ] 


THE      LEVER 


Konniorc  took  his  departure  shortly  after  dinner,  and 
Eleanor  and  Alice  remained  with  Mr.  Gorham  and  Allen, 
who  lingered  a  few  moments  over  their  cigars  before 
taking  up  their  evening's  labors.  Eleanor,  in  an  effort 
to  relieve  her  own  mind  from  its  oppressing  thoughts, 
quite  unconsciously  called  attention  to  Allen's  quiet  bear 
ing,  which  Mr.  Gorham  had  hoped  would  pass  by  with 
out  attracting  attention,  knowing  as  he  did  what  lay 
beneath. 

"  How  sober  you  are  to-night,  Allen,"  she  said. 

The  boy  looked  up  quickly.  "  Forgive  me  for  being 
such  poor  company,"  he  replied,  simply.  "  I  was  think 
ing  over  what  the  Senator  has  been  telling  us." 

"  You  must  leave  all  that  worry  to  me,"  Gorham  said, 
kindly.  "  Great  burdens  are  not  meant  for  young  shoul 
ders.  The  Consolidated  Companies  is  too  strong  a  force 
to  be  vanquished  without  a  hard  struggle,  even  when 
attacked  by  so  mighty  an  organization  as  the  United 
States  Senate." 

"  I  was  not  worrying  about  that,  Mr.  Gorham,"  Allen 
replied,  and  he  regretted  the  words  as  soon  as  they  had 
left  his  lips. 

"  What  is  it,  then  ?"  asked  Alice. 

The  boy  passed  his  hand  across  his  forehead  and  rose 
to  his  feet.  "  I  don't  know  what  it  is,"  he  answered, 
irresolutely.  "  I  am  all  upset  to-night — do  you  mind  if 
I  go  up  to  the  library  now,  Mr.  Gorham,  and  wait  for 
you  there?" 

Gorham  held  out  his  hand  and  Allen  grasped  it  firm 
ly,  yet  turned  his  face  away. 

"  Have  you  lost  faith  in  me,  too,  my  boy  ?  Has  it 
really  come  to  that?" 

"  I  beg  of  you,  let  me  go  now,"  Allen  replied,  con- 
[258] 


THE     LEVER 


trolling  himself  with  difficulty.    "  You  know  I  shall  never 
lose  faith  in  you." 

"  You  are  in  no  condition  for  work  to-night,"  Gorham 
remarked,  quietly.  "  Draw  your  chair  up  here  beside 
me,  and  let  us  talk  it  all  out  right  now." 

Allen  looked  hesitatingly  at  Eleanor  and  Alice  and 
then  at  Gorham.  "  Not  now?"  he  said. 

"  Why  not  now,  Allen  ?"  Alice  asked,  curious  to  know 
what  so  affected  him.  "  You  told  me  once  that  you  were 
my  business  creation,  and  that  I  must  accept  the  re 
sponsibility  whether  I  wished  it  or  not.  Surely  I  am 
entitled  to  be  present." 

•  "  Affairs  have  changed  since  then.  If  I  don't  hold 
my  tongue  now,  I  shall  say  things  for  which  you  and 
your  father  will  never  forgive  me." 

"  I  want  to  hear  them,  Allen,"  she  insisted ;  "  I  have  a 
right  to  hear  them." 

Gorham  was  impressed  by  the  girl's  attitude.  "  She 
is  right,"  he  added.  "  Now,  out  with  it,  boy,  and  let 
us  get  to  the  bottom  of  things." 

Then  the  pent-up  thoughts  which  had  been  collecting 
during  the  past  few  months  burst  forth. 

"  You  have  made  me  do  it,  Mr.  Gorham,"  the  boy 
cried,  passionately.  "  You  would  never  have  heard  it 
from  my  lips  except  for  that,  but  I  can't  stand  it  any 
longer.  I  have  tried  hard  since  we  talked  that  last  time 
to  convince  myself  that  I  was  wrong,  but  I  can't  do  it. 
I  know  it's  because  I  can't  see  things  the  right  way,  but, 
whatever  the  cause,  the  trouble  is  there.  To  me  the 
Companies  seems  based  on  interests  which  are  wholly 
selfish,  and  to  be  accomplishing  good  only  because  doing 
business  on  this  basis  brings  extra  dividends  to  its  stock 
holders.  It  is  growing  bigger  and  more  powerful  and 

[  259  ] 


THE      LEVER 


more  irresistible,  but  with  this  increasing  power  there  is 
also  increasing  danger ;  and  I  feel  sure,  Mr.  Gorham,  as 
I  told  you  before,  that  some  day  the  public  will  have 
to  pay  the  price.  When  the  dike  breaks  the  flood  is 
going  to  wipe  out  all  the  advantages  which  the  people 
have  received,  and  more  too." 

The  boy  paused  for  breath  and  waited,  expecting  to 
hear  Gorham's  stern  reproaches,  but  none  came.  The 
amazed  expression  both  on  Eleanor's  and  Alice's  faces, 
however,  evidenced  the  heresy  of  his  words. 

"  I  suppose  I  am  forfeiting  all  which  this  family  means 
to  me  by  my  seeming  disloyalty  to  you,  Mr.  Gorham ; 
but  I  honestly  feel  that  I  am  more  loyal  than  if  I  played 
the  hypocrite.  I  see  you  carrying  on  the  business  of  this 
corporation  surrounded  by  men  whose  only  thought  is  of 
themselves,  who  accept  your  judgment  simply  because 
it  puts  dollars  into  their  pockets,  who  permit  you  to 
exercise  your  ideals  only  because  they  know  that  it  means 
profit  to  them.  Yet  you  have  been  consistent,  you  have 
been  straightforward,  you  have  lived  up  to  the  standards 
which  you  have  taught  me  to  expect.  But  can't  you 
see,  Mr.  Gorham  "  — the  boy  held  out  both  arms  sup- 
plicatingly — "  can't  you  see  that  there  isn't  a  single 
man  in  that  great  organization  who  feels  as  you  do? 
Can't  you  see  that  even  Senator  Kenmore  is  thinking 
only  of  himself?" 

"  You  forget  Mr.  Covington  and — yourself,"  Gorham 
answered. 

"  I  don't  cut  any  ice,  one  way  or  the  other,"  Allen 
protested,  "  but  I  haven't  forgotten  Mr.  Covington.  I 
tell  you,  Mr.  Gorham — forgive  me,  Alice — Mr.  Coving- 
ton  is  the  worst  of  all.  He's  the  one  who  has  influenced 
the  committee  to  take  their  stand  against  you;  he's  help- 

[260] 


THE      LEVER 


ing  them  plan  things  out  now  so  as  to  throw  you  down, 
hoping  to  become  president  himself ;  he's  trying  to  marry 
Alice  so  that  you  can't  expose  him  when  you  begin  to 
unravel  his  double  cross.  I  tell  you,  he's  the  slickest 
Johnnie  outside  of  State's  Prison." 

"  Of  course  you  have  unquestionable  proof  to  support 
all  this,  Allen?"  Gorham  demanded,  sternly. 

"  No,  I  haven't,  and  I  shouldn't  speak ;  but  I  know 
I'm  right,"  was  the  dogged  reply. 

"  Do  you  realize  what  it  means  to  make  such  unsub 
stantiated  statements  ?" 

"  But  I  have  everything  except  the  actual  proofs,"  he 
pleaded. 

"  What  else  can  you  have  ?" 

"  I  know  how  he's  been  investing  Alice's  money  for 
her,  for  instance." 

"  What  of  that ;  it  was  done  with  my  consent." 

"  With  your  consent  ?"  Allen  repeated,  bewildered. 
"  Then  you  knew — with  your  principles — " 

Gorham  was  thoroughly  angry  now,  but  he  delayed 
replying  until  he  could  choose  his  words  in  the  presence 
of  his  wife  and  daughter. 

"  I  have  borne  with  this  long  enough,"  he  interrupted. 
"  I  have  been  patient  with  you  because  I  sympathized 
with  your  disappointment  regarding  Alice — but  my  pa 
tience  is  at  an  end.  Your  jealousy  has  so  warped  your 
sense  of  right  and  wrong  that  you  arc  willing  to  attack 
the  reputation  of  a  man  of  honor  and  integrity,  trying 
to  injure  him  in  the  eyes  of  those  who  respect  him.  I 
warned  you  against  this,  and  you  have  failed  to  heed  my 
warning.  Much  as  I  regret  it,  on  many  accounts,  there 
is  no  alternative — your  usefulness  to  the  Companies  is 
at  an  end." 

[  201  ] 


THE      LEVER 


Allen  rose  and  looked  searchingly  into  Gorham's  face. 
He  could  read  in  the  lines  which  he  saw  there  a  real 
suffering  which  touched  him  deeply.  No  man,  not  even 
his  father,  had  come  so  closely  into  his  life  as  Mr.  Gor- 
ham,  and  the  boy's  heart  was  wrung  with  pain  that  he 
should  be  the  cause  of  adding  to  his  burdens.  But  his 
gaze  into  those  expressive  eyes  seemed  to  bewilder  him 
still  further,  for  he  passed  his  hand  in  a  dazed  manner 
across  his  forehead. 

"  You  must  be  right,"  he  said  at  length.  "  I  should 
have  known  that  I'd  be  no  good  in  business.  Why,  I 
haven't  even  brains  enough  to  comprehend.  I  know  that 
you,  sir,  are  the  soul  of  honor,  and  yet  you  tell  me  that 
you  knew  of  that  investment.  I'm  a  failure — I'm  just 
no  good,  that's  all.  I'll  go  back  to  Pittsburgh  and 
tell  the  pater  what  a  chance  you  gave  me,  and  what 
a  mess  I  made  of  it.  Then  I'll  ask  him  to  let  me 
strip  down  as  his  other  workmen  do,  and  go  into 
the  furnaces  •  where  I  belong.  Good  -  night  and— 
good-bye." 

As  the  conversation  developed  into  so  serious  a  situa 
tion,  Alice  and  Eleanor  watched  the  two  men,  astonished 
at  the  nature  of  the  disagreement,  and  filled  with  appre 
hension.  Mrs.  Gorham  had  grown  more  fond  of  the  boy 
than  she  realized  until  this  moment,  and  she  actually 
suffered  for  him.  Alice  was  running  the  gamut  of  her 
emotions,  her  sensations  changing  every  moment,  affected 
by  each  sentence  which  she  heard  torn  from  the  very 
soul  of  each  speaker.  As  Allen  rose  after  his  final  ac 
ceptance  of  his  dismissal,  she  rose  with  him,  a  curious 
mixture  of  uncertainty  and  lack  of  understanding  com 
bining  in  her  expression. 

"  I    don't    believe    you    do    know    about    that    stock, 
[262] 


THE      LEVER 


daddy,"   she  said,   quietly.      "  Before  Allen   goes   per 
haps — " 

"  I  know  all  about  it,  Alice,"  her  father  replied,  im 
patiently.  "  Allen  has  no  right  to  meddle  in  my  personal 
affairs,  and  I  resent  it.  Don't  interfere,  little  girl- 
leave  this  to  me." 

The  color  left  her  face,  and  she  seemed  to  grow  to 
mature  years  in  the  instant.  Allen  started  to  leave, 
but  was  held  spellbound  by  the  force  exercised  by  the 
quiet,  firm  dignity  which  became  at  once  the  dominating 
factor. 

"  You  are  wrong,  daddy,"  she  said,  with  a  new  note 
in  her  voice  which  all  recognized  instinctively.  "  For 
the  first  time  in  my  life,  I  tell  you,  you  are  wrong." 

"  Leave  this  to  me,  Alice,"  Gorham  repeated,  sternly, 
but  the  girl  did  not  heed  him. 

"  Since  I  have  been  sitting  here  I  have  learned  a  lot, 
and  I  know  that  Allen  is  right.  There  are  things  which 
I  have  kept  from  you,  and  now  I  know  that  I  should 
have  told  you  all  about  them.  Now  I  know  that  the 
advice  I  received  was  wrong — and  it  is  all  reacting  upon 
Allen  and  upon  you." 

"  Is  there  no  way—  "  Gorham  began,  thoroughly  ex 
asperated. 

"  Be  patient,  Robert,"  begged  Eleanor. 

"  Don't,  Alice,"  Allen  protested ;  "  it's  mighty  white 
of  you,  but  it  only  makes  matters  worse.  I'm  going 
now — 

"  Not  until  I  tell  you  that  I've  been  unfair  to  you 
too,"  she  cried.  "  I've  made  fun  of  you  and  been  horrid 
to  you,  but  I  believe  I've  loved  you  all  the  time." 

"  Alice !"  the  boy  exclaimed. 

"  You  are  forgetting  your  duty  to  Mr.  Covington,  as 
[263] 


THE      LEVER 


you  have  already  forgotten  your  duty  to  me,"  her  father 
expostulated,  severely. 

"  She  doesn't  mean  it,  Mr.  Gorham  —  please  don't 
blame  her;  it's  all  my  fault." 

"  I  do  mean  it,  Allen.  I  haven't  known  my  own  heart 
till  now." 

"  It's  pity  for  me — it  isn't  love,"  the  boy  replied,  bit 
terly.  "  I'm  a  failure  and  you're  sorry  for  me.  I  wanted 
you  when  I  thought  I  could  make  good.  Now  that  I 
know  I  can't,  it's  different.  But  I'll  never  forget  it, 
Alice,  never.  Don't  blame  her,  Mr.  Gorham.  Good- 
bye." 

He  rushed  out,  not  trusting  himself  to  speak  further, 
and  a  moment  later  those  left  behind  heard  the  door 
close  quietly  as  he  went  out  into  the  darkness. 


XXVI 


THE  Executive  Committee  were  ready  to  make  their 
first  move ;  and  at  a  meeting  at  which  Gorham  was 
not  present,  they  had  voted  to  ask  the  president 
to  call  a  special  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Directors.  The 
call  for  the  meeting  was  supplemented  by  a  letter  to 
the  Directors,  signed  by  each  member  of  the  committee, 
setting  forth  that  the  business  to  be  considered  included 
the  rescinding  of  a  resolution  passed  at  a  previous  meet 
ing,  placing  plenipotentiary  powers  in  the  hands  of 
the  president,  and  also  to  consider  the  desirability  of 
so  dividing  his  present  duties  that  the  responsibilities 
might  rest  on  several  shoulders  instead  of  upon  his 
alone.  It  further  recited  that  various  criticisms  of  the 
president  would  be  considered  at  that  time, — specifically, 
that  Mr.  Gorham  was  using  the  Consolidated  Compa 
nies  for  his  own  private  ends;  that  he  prevented  his 
associates  from  being  recognized  in  their  full  relation 
to  the  work,  the  credit  for  which  he  himself  monopo 
lized  ;  that  he  was  devoting  a  large  part  of  his  time 
at  the  expense  of  the  Companies  in  straightening  out 
certain  domestic  complications,  as  a  result  of  which  the 
corporation  was  losing  ground,  and  was  even  be 
ing  threatened  by  adverse  legislation  in  Washington, 
against  which  it  was  his  duty  to  protect  it.  And  finally, 
it  was  claimed  that  the  president  had  at  least  on  one 

[  205  ] 


THE      LEVER 


occasion  taken  advantage  of  his  official  position  to  make 
certain  investments  for  his  own  personal  advantage. 

A  copy  of  this  letter  accidentally  fell  into  Gorham's 
hands,  and  his  indignation  at  its  needlessly  antagonistic 
wording  was  tempered  by  several  elements  of  surprise. 
The  frankness  with  which  the  grievances  were  stated 
was  an  evidence  that  his  associates  were  prepared  to 
force  the  break  with  him,  and  to  dispense  Avith  what 
ever  value  his  connection  with  the  corporation  might 
have.  The  reference  to  his  domestic  complications  sur 
prised  him  not  a  little,  showing  as  it  did  a  familiarity 
with  this  subject  which  he  had  not  supposed  to  have 
become  common  property.  The  suggestion  that  he  had 
been  false  to  the  ideals  which  he  himself  had  imposed 
could  only  be  construed  as  a  gratuitous  affront;  yet 
these  men  who  constituted  the  Executive  Committee  were 
not  those  who  would  lightly  do  this.  He  could  quite 
understand  their  resentment  of  both  his  attitude  and  his 
words  at  the  last  meeting — he  had  expected  them  to  make 
an  effort  to  wrest  from  him,  but  in  such  a  way  as  not  to 
jeopardize  their  own  interests,  the  supreme  authority 
which  he  had  forced  from  them ;  yet  they  all  knew  him 
too  well  even  to  suggest  any  transaction  on  his  part  so 
at  variance  with  the  standards  which  he  had  established. 

After  thinking  it  all  over,  he  sent  for  Covington,  and 
as  the  younger  man  entered  he  handed  him  the  com 
munication. 

"  Have  you  seen  this  before?"  Gorham  asked. 

"  Yes;  Litchfield  just  showed  it  to  me." 

"What  does  it  mean?" 

"  Compromise,  I  hope,"  Covington  replied.  "  Nothing 
else  can  prevent  a  great  calamity  to  the  Companies.  I 
am  even  more  certain  of  this  now  than  before." 

[2GG1 


THE      LEVER 


"  How  do  they  know  anything  about  my  personal  af 
fairs?" 

"  I  can't  imagine,  unless  through  some  one  of  the 
secret-service  men." 

"  You,  of  course,  have  made  no  reference  to  it?" 

"  Certainly  not."     Covington  resented  the  suggestion. 

"  Now,  about  this  last  statement  —  what  docs  that 
mean  ?" 

"  It  is  a  complete  mystery  to  me.  Of  course,  there's 
nothing  in  it?" 

Gorham  looked  at  him  with  a  flash  in  his  eye  which 
he  had  learned  to  respect.  "  Do  I  need  to  answer  that 
question?" 

Covington's  watchful  mind  noted  the  evasion.  Gor- 
hani  had  not  actually  denied  it. 

"  Of  course  not,"  he  responded ;  "  but  they  claim  to 
have  indisputable  evidence.  I  tried  to  find  out  what  it 
was,  but  knowing  how  close  I  am  to  you,  they  are  hold 
ing  that  back  until  the  meeting." 

"  Indisputable  evidence,  have  they  ?  I  should  like  to 
see  it!  Please  have  a  call  signed  by  the  secretary  and 
sent  out  at  once  for  a  special  meeting  of  the  Board 
to  be  held  to-morrow  afternoon  at  four  o'clock.  Send 
with  it  a  waiver  of  the  usual  five  days'  notice. 
More  than  a  majority  of  the  Board  are  in  the 
city,  and  they  will  be  as  eager  as  I  am  to  dispose  of 
this  matter." 

The  formalities  in  opening  the  meeting  were  brief, 
and  the  business  in  hand  was  taken  up  with  a  prompt 
ness  which  showed  the  strong  desire  dominating  both 
sides  to  have  the  issue  met  squarely  and  settled  once 
for  all.  It  was  an  interesting  study  to  watch  the  expres 
sions  on  the  various  faces.  Men  who  seldom  allowed 

[267] 


THE      LEVER 


their  bearing  to  reflect  the  emotions  influencing  them, 
gave  every  evidence  of  their  full  appreciation  that  a 
crisis  was  upon  them.  With  the  possible  exception  of 
Covington,  Gorham  showed  less  than  any  of  them  the 
effect  of  the  tense  strain  which  the  situation  developed. 
At  the  last  meeting,  the  committee  had  witnessed  an 
exhibition  of  the  latent  reserve  force  which  lay  be 
neath  the  impassive  exterior,  so  they  needed  no  further 
warning  that  the  quiet  yet  flashing  eyes,  the  firm  set 
ting  of  the  mouth,  the  head  bent  forward,  the  general 
bearing — alert  and  decisive — all  attested  a  foeman 
worthy  of  their  steel.  It  was  his  business  life  now 
against  theirs,  but  they  believed  themselves  strong 
enough  to  force  the  struggle. 

Litchficld  was  again  spokesman.  "  Nothing  can  be 
more  painful,"  he  said,  "  to  me  personally  or  to  the 
other  members  of  the  Board  of  Directors  than  to  have 
circumstances  arise  such  as  these  which  have  made  this 
meeting  necessary.  It  was  a  surprise  to  us,  on  the  oc 
casion  of  the  last  session,  to  have  our  president  take 
such  exceptions  to  the  suggestions  which  we  advanced 
in  good  faith.  We  tried  to  make  it  clear  to  him  that 
we  all  recognized  and  appreciated  the  extraordinary 
services  which  he  has  rendered  to  the  Consolidated 
Companies,  yet  we  cannot  admit  that  he  possesses  all 
the  wisdom,  or  that  his  policies  are  the  only  ones  which 
can  be  considered.  He  made  it  quite  evident  to  us  at 
that  time  that  our  judgment  was  desired  only  to  the 
extent  that  it  coincided  with  his  own.  He  has  seemed 
to  overlook  the  fact  that  the  Consolidated  Companies 
is  not  a  private  corporation,  but  rather  one  in  which 
several  of  the  Directors  arc  even  more  heavily  interested, 
in  a  financial  way,  than  he  is  himself. 

[268] 


THE     LEVER 


"  There  is  no  question  in  the  minds  of  any  of  us 
that  the  services  of  our  president  are  still  absolutely 
essential  to  the  success  of  the  corporation,  and  we  have 
no  wish  or  intention  of  having  him  separate  himself 
from  it ;  but  we  have  become  aware,  through  the  unpre 
cedented  position  which  has  been  taken,  that  if  those 
interests  which  we  represent  are  to  be  safeguarded,  im 
mediate  action  must  be  taken  to  convince  him  that  the 
Consolidated  Companies  is  not  his  personal  property, 
that  the  Executive  Committee  are  not  mere  puppets, 
and  that  even  the  president  of  a  great  and  successful 
corporation  is,  after  all,  an  employee  of  that  corpora 
tion,  and  subject  to  its  control.  The  gentlemen  who 
have  the  honor  to  serve  on  the  Executive  Com 
mittee  resent  the  imputation  made  by  him  that  this 
code  of  business  morals,  which  he  has  originated,  is 
necessarily  the  only  moral  code,  or  that  he  himself  pos 
sesses  the  right  or  the  power  to  establish  the  standard 
by  which  to  measure  them  as  individuals  or  as  of 
ficials. 

"  My  colleagues  have  asked  me  to  state  the  situation 
at  this  length  in  order  that  our  president  may  under 
stand  that  our  present  attitude  is  inspired  not  by  any 
personal  antagonism,  but  rather  by  what  appears  to 
us  to  be  a  necessary  and  simple  business  precaution. 
What  the  Board  of  Directors  propose  now  is  to  rescind 
the  resolution,  passed  upon  our  president's  insistence  at 
the  last  meeting,  which  gave  him  unlimited  power  in  the 
conduct  of  the  corporation,  to  divide  the  responsibilities 
in  such  a  way  that  the  fortunes  of  the  Consolidated  Com 
panies  will  no  longer  remain  dependent  upon  the  life  or 
services  of  any  one  officer,  and  to  insist  that  the  em 
ployees  of  the  corporation  be  used  only  in  the  execution 

[269] 


THE      LEVER 


of  the  corporation's  business.  Our  president  will  still  be 
given  a  free  scope  in  the  conduct  of  the  important  mat 
ters  which  will  be  intrusted  to  him,  but  from  now  on 
the  Board  of  Directors  insist  that  the  corporation  shall 
be  dominated  by  their  joint  policies,  in  the  establish 
ment  of  which  our  president  will  still  have  great 
weight." 

Go r ham  listened  to  Litchfield's  remarks  with  marked 
patience.  He  was  relieved  that  they  were  free  from 
the  personalities  and  vituperations  which  the  wording 
of  the  call  had  led  him  to  fear,  for  to  his  nature  it  was 
impossible  to  work  in  such  close  relationship  with  such 
a  body  of  able  men  without  acquiring  a  regard  beyond 
that  inspired  by  mere  commercial  intercourse.  They 
were  wrong  in  their  whole  understanding  of  his  posi 
tion,  but  he  could  convince  them  of  that  now  that  there 
had  been  nothing  said  to  cause  an  open  rupture. 

"  My  friends,"  he  said,  "  I  can  take  no  exception  to 
the  position  which  you  assume,  knowing  as  I  do  the 
viewpoint  from  which  you  speak.  The  arbitrary  atti 
tude  which  I  have  assumed  has  been  one  which  you 
yourselves  have  forced  upon  me  rather  than  one  taken 
of  my  own  volition — but  I  shall  later  refer  to  this  more 
at  length.  I  agree  with  you  that  the  employees  of  this 
or  any  other  corporation  should  be  used  only  in  the 
exercise  of  the  corporation's  business ;  but  would  not 
the  success  of  any  blackmailing  attempt,  such  as  the  one 
I  am  fighting,  react  upon  the  Companies  fully  as  much 
as  upon  me?  As  to  the  gentlemen  who  form  our  Execu 
tive  Committee,  even  though  I  have  differed  from  them 
on  a  point  which  I  conceive  to  be  absolutely  vital  to  the 
success  of  the  Consolidated  Companies,  I  consider  them 
the  ablest  body  of  business  men  ever  gathered  together 

[270] 


THE     LEVER 


upon  any  committee.  I  am  proud  of  them  for  the  repu 
tation  they  have  given  to  the  Companies,  I  respect  them 
personally  for  their  own  sterling  worth.  I  can  con 
ceive  no  personal  calamity  greater  than  to  have  any 
necessity  arise  to  make  it  necessary  for  us  to  sever  our 
relations — and  I  cannot,  even  now,  see  that  any  such 
occasion  exists. 

"As  to  the  matter  of  dividing  the  responsibilities,  I 
again  agree  with  you.  It  is  not  the  act  of  wisdom  to 
have  the  destinies  of  any  corporation  so  large  as  this 
rest  as  heavily  upon  any  one  man's  shoulders  as  your 
attitude  has  convinced  me  that  this  rests  upon  mine.  I 
not  only  assent  to  this  proposition  also,  but  I  will  do 
all  which  lies  in  my  power  to  accomplish  it.  I  will  even 
reserve  my  '  code  of  morals,'  as  you  are  pleased  to  call 
it,  wholly  for  myself,  considering  that  it  is  a  point  upon 
which  we  fail  to  agree. 

"  All  that  remains,  then,  is  for  you  gentlemen  to  give 
me  your  assurances  upon  one  point:  namely,  that  the 
present  basis  of  profit-sharing  with  the  public  shall  not 
be  disturbed.  I  will  no  longer  put  it  upon  a  moral 
basis — I  insist  upon  it  solely  as  a  business  policy.  With 
this  one  point  established,  I  will  work  with  you  to  the 
extent  of  such  strength  and  ability  as  I  have  within  me, 
to  further  the  interests  of  the  great  Consolidated  Com 
panies  as  it  advances  triumphantly  along  its  appointed 
path." 

"  But  this  is  the  main  contention  upon  which  our 
split  has  come,"  protested  Litchfield. 

"  You  objected  to  the  stand  I  took  that  the  public  is 
morally  entitled  to  an  equal  division.  Personally,  I 
still  maintain  that  this  obligation  exists,  but  now  I  am 
endeavoring  to  convince  you  that  to  continue  this  is 

[271] 


THE      LEVER 


an  act  of  supreme  business  wisdom.  Mr.  Litchfield 
made  reference,  in  the  course  of  his  remarks,  to  the 
adverse  legislation  with  which  the  Companies  is  threat 
ened.  I  am,  and  have  always  been,  in  the  closest  touch 
with  the  situation,  and  I  tell  you,  gentlemen,  this  dan 
ger  is  a  real  one.  I  have  seen  Senator  Kenmore  within 
a  few  days,  and  his  information  is  most  alarming.  Next 
week  I  expect  to  be  in  Washington  again  to  fight  the 
battle  not  only  for  the  future  of  the  Consolidated  Com 
panies,  but  for  its  very  life.  We  have  powerful  allies, 
and  I  believe  that  we  can  win,  but,  in  the  words  of  the 
Attorney-General  himself,  only  provided  that  we  can 
show  our  hands  to  be  clean  in  our  future  intentions  as 
well  as  in  our  present  practices." 

"  Suppose  we  postpone  any  action  whatever  until  af 
ter  the  present  crisis  in  Washington  has  passed,"  sug 
gested  one  of  the  Directors. 

"  The  action  must  be  taken  at  once,"  insisted  Gor- 
ham.  "  I  told  you,  gentlemen,  that  I  had  awakened 
from  my  Utopian  dream.  I  shall  make  no  more  prom 
ises  until  I  am  absolutely  certain  that  they  will  be  made 
good  to  the  letter." 

"  How  far  do  you  carry  this  '  Utopian '  policy  of 
yours,  Mr.  Gorham?"  asked  Litchfield.  "Would  you 
even  go  so  far  as  to  deny  the  right  of  any  officer  of 
the  corporation  to  make  profit  for  himself  as  a  result 
of  inside  information  gained  in  his  official  capacity?" 

"  Most  assuredly." 

Covington  watched  his  chief  critically  as  the  blow 
began  to  fall.  What  a  crash  this  idol  would  make  when 
it  fell  from  its  self-created  pedestal! 

"  Would  you  criticise  an  officer  of  this  corporation 
who  invested  in  stock  about  to  be  acquired  by  the  Com- 

[272] 


THE      LEVER 


panics,  thus  taking   advantage   of  the   certain  rise  in 
value  which  he  knew  would  come  to  it?" 

"  I  should  consider  such  an  official  as  absolutely  false 
to  his  trust.  Is  there  one  of  us  present  who  would  feel 
otherwise  ?" 

Litchfield  smiled.  "  There  is  no  one  present  who  does 
not  regret  the  lack  of  friendliness  which  prevented  our 
president  from  giving  him  an  equal  chance  with  him 
self  in  the  purchase  of  stock  in  the  New  York  Street 
Railways  Company." 

Gorham  seemed  not  to  comprehend  the  charge  against 
him.  "  You  will  have  to  enlighten  me  further,"  he  said, 
coldly. 

Litchfield  drew  some  papers  from  his  pocket  and 
handed  them  to  Gorham.  "  We  don't  undertake  to  criti 
cise  you  for  making  the  most  of  this  opportunity," 
he  said,  "  but  out  of  respect  to  your  ridiculous  '  code,' 
we  have  ourselves  refrained.  Next  time  we  shall  expect 
you  to  give  us  a  chance  too;  and,  incidentally,  don't 
you  think  we  can  now  come  to  a  mutual  understanding 
regarding  the  morality  basis  of  the  Consolidated  Com 
panies  ?" 

"  Where  did  you  get  these  papers  ?"  Gorham  de 
manded. 

"  From  Mr.  Brad}r,  who  was  interested  enough  to 
supply  us  with  the  sworn  statements  which  you  see 
here." 

"  Do  you  really  believe  that  I  invested  a  penny  of 
my  money  in  that  stock?" 

"  Come,    Gorham,    admit    that    the    joke's    on    you,*' 
Litchfield  laughed.     "  Of  course,  it  was  your  daughter 
who  did  it,  and,  of  course,  you  knew  nothing  about  it ! — 
Don't  try  to  hide  behind  her  skirts." 
18  [  273  ] 


THE      LEVER 


Gorham  looked  across  to  where  Covington  was  sit 
ting,  pale  and  unnerved  by  the  unexpected  development. 
He  might  have  suspected  this,  but  the  remoteness  of 
the  chance  had  as  a  matter  of  fact  precluded  any 
thought  of  the  possibility.  Gorham  started  to  speak, 
but  checked  himself.  He  could  not  bring  his  daugh 
ter's  name  into  this  discussion  without  more  time  to 
consider  the  situation.  Then  he  turned  again  to  his 
associates. 

"  Gentlemen,"  he  said,  quictry,  "  it  seems  hardly  nec 
essary  for  me  to  make  this  statement,  but  I  wish  to  put 
myself  on  record :  I  have  never  invested  one  cent  of 
my  own  money,  or  any  one  else's,  in  any  stock  whose 
value  was  likely  to  be  affected  by  the  action  of  the  Con 
solidated  Companies.  No  one  else  has  ever  done  so 
with  my  knowledge  or  consent.  I  shall  have  more  to 
say  upon  this  matter  when  I  have  had  sufficient  time  to 
acquaint  myself  with  all  the  facts.  Until  then,  I  ask 
that  this  meeting  be  adjourned,  subject  to  an  early 
call." 

Litchfield,  puzzled,  as  were  the  others,  by  Gor- 
ham's  flat  denial  in  the  face  of  the  overwhelming  evi 
dence,  put  the  motion  for  adjournment  which  the  presi 
dent  requested. 


XXVII 


THE  bachelor  apartment-house  which  Allen  Sanfortl 
called  his  home  in  New  York,  though  constantly 
referred  to  by  him  as  his  "  two  by  twice  hall  bed 
room,"  was  considerably  more  pretentious  and  expensive 
than  a  young  man  receiving  his  modest  income  would  or 
dinarily  have  selected ;  yet  when  he  decided  upon  it,  the 
chief  point  in  question  was  whether  or  not  it  suited  his 
tastes.  The  fact  that  the  rent  alone  exceeded  the  sal 
ary  assured  him  by  his  position  in  the  Consolidated 
Companies  did  not  strike  him  as  of  any  particular  sig 
nificance.  He  had  sold  his  motor  before  leaving  Wash 
ington,  and  with  this  nest-egg  and  what  remained  of 
his  last  allowance  to  draw  upon,  the  necessity  of  econ 
omy  had  not  occurred  to  him.  "  I've  eaten  up  the  tires, 
and  now  I'm  beginning  on  the  chassis,"  he  had  once 
remarked  in  conversation ;  but  with  characteristic  con 
fidence  in  the  future,  he  made  no  provision  for  the  time 
when  he  should  have  thoroughly  fletcherized  the  entire 
machine. 

Now  that  he  had  joined  the  army  of  the  unemployed, 
and  had  decided  to  return  to  Pittsburgh,  it  was  incum 
bent  upon  him  to  pack  up  his  belongings.  This  was  a 
project  which  failed  to  appeal  to  him.  He  had  formally 
terminated  his  connection  with  the  Consolidated  Com 
panies  on  the  day  before,  and  this  Sunday  morning  had 

[2751 


THE      LEVER 


been  set  apart  by  him  for  his  tremendous  undertaking. 
His  trunks  were  in  the  middle  of  the  floor,  and  his 
clothes  deposited  in  various  stages  of  disorder  upon 
every  chair  in  the  room,  preparatory  to  making  the 
start  toward  packing  which  appalled  him.  The  empty 
drawers  of  the  dresser  and  the  chiffonnier,  and  the  bare 
hooks  of  the  closet  bore  silent  tribute  to  the  thorough 
ness  of  his  work  thus  far. 

He  was  sitting  upon  the  edge  of  a  trunk,  regarding 
in  dismay  the  confusion  around  him  and  wondering 
where  to  make  a  start,  when  the  bell  rang  vigorously. 
He  opened  the  door  in  surprise,  and  was  relieved  to 
find  no  more  formidable  a  visitor  than  the  elevator  boy. 

"  A  young  lady  down-stairs  to  see  you,  sir." 

"A— what?"  demanded  Allen. 

"  She  wouldn't  give  her  name,  sir." 

"  I'll  be  right  down,"  he  cried,  slamming  the  door  un 
ceremoniously  in  the  boy's  face,  and  rushing  into  his 
coat  and  waistcoat.  Could  it  be  that  Alice  had  really 
meant  what  she  said  that  night,  and  had  come  to  con 
vince  him  of  it !  There  was  a  girl  for  you !  He  would 
never  accept  the  sacrifice,  he  told  himself  resolutely, 
still  he  fairly  danced  as  he  straightened  his  necktie, 
tripped  over  his  evening  clothes,  which  he  had  knocked 
onto  the  floor,  and  almost  stumbled  over  a  little  figure 
in  the  hallway,  as  he  threw  open  the  door  and  started 
to  rush  to  the  elevator. 

"  They  wouldn't  let  me  come  up  in  the  elevator,  so  I 
walked,"  announced  Patricia,  looking  up  at  him  with 
a  beaming  smile. 

"  What  are  you  doing  here  ?  Is  Alice  down-stairs  ?" 
Allen  demanded,  completely  bewildered  by  the  unexpected 
apparition. 

[276] 


THE     LEVER 


"  I've  come  to  go  away  with  you,  and  Alice  is  at 
home,"  the  child  answered,  simply.  "  Papa  said  you  were 
going  back  to  Pittsburgh.  Aren't  you  glad  to  see  me? 
I've  got  all  my  things  packed  up  in  this  bag,  except 
my  Knights  of  the  Round  Table,  which  wouldn't  go  in, 
so  I  carried  it  under  my  arm." 

He  looked  at  her,  speechless  with  astonishment  as  she 
proudly  held  up  the  diminutive  satchel  and  displayed 
her  precious  volume. 

"  Of  course  I'm  glad  to  see  you,  Lady  Pat,"  he  said 
at  length ;  "  but  you  ought  not  to  come  here  alone,  you 
know." 

"  I'm  not  alone,"  she  insisted.  "  Riley  is  down-stairs 
in  my  pony  cart.  Phillips  didn't  know  where  you  lived, 
but  he's  only  a  groom,  so  I  brought  Riley.  Now,  how 
shall  we  get  rid  of  him,  and  have  you  made  a  hundred 
thousand  dollars  with  my  money?" 

"  I'm  ashamed  to  say  I  haven't — I  was  too  late.  The 
storks  had  all  gone  South  for  the  winter,  but  I  must 
give  you  back  your  bank." 

Allen  turned  into  his  room,  closely  followed  by 
Patricia. 

"  Then  you  haven't  money  enough  to  get  mar 
ried?"  she  asked  in  a  pathetic  little  voice.  Sudden 
ly  her  face  brightened.  "  But  I  don't  mind ;  I'll  keep 
house  for  you  without  any  money;  and  storks  al 
ways  come  to  newly  married  people,  I've  heard  them 
say  so." 

"  We  couldn't  do  that,  Lady  Pat ;  we'd  starve  to 
death  unless  we  ate  the  storks.  Come,  let's  go  and 
find  Riley." 

But  Riley's  anxiety  had  resulted  in  his  anticipating 
them,  and  the  familiar  face  at  that  moment  showed 

[277] 


THE      LEVER 


above  the  stairway,  as  the  old  man  approached  them, 
out  of  breath. 

"Ah,  there  ye  are,  praise  be  ter  th'  Virgin  Mary," 
he  panted.  "Ah,  sich  a  mess  as  ye're  gettin'  poor  old 
Rilcy  in.  I  cudn't  hilp  it,  Misther  Allen,  I  cudn't  no 
how,"  heading  off  any  criticism  from  that  quarter — 
"she  wud  have  it,  and  that's  th'  ind  iv  it.  I'm  think- 
in'  that's  why  they  named  her  Miss  Pat — 'tis  th'  Irish 
persistency  iv  her  name  that  crops  out,  an'  th'  cajolery. 
I  cudn't  hilp  it,  nohow." 

"  Of  course  he  couldn't  help  it!"  Patricia  assented. 
"  I  had  to  see  you,  and  some  one  had  to  show  me  where 
you  lived.  But  you  may  go  now  if  you  want  to,  Riley." 

"  We  had  better  come  inside  and  talk  it  over — if  we 
can  get  in,"  Allen  suggested,  opening  the  door  again, 
and  pushing  the  things  one  side. 

"Ah,  Misther  Allen — all  ye'er  clothes  will  be  spiled, 
kickin'  'round  like  this.  Shall  I  fold  'em  up  an'  put 
'em  in  th'  thrunks  fer  ye,  sor?" 

Riley  was  in  his  element  again,  and  Allen  grasped 
at  the  old  man's  offer  with  an  eagerness  not  as 
sumed. 

"That's  just  the  thing,"  he  said.  "You  pack  the 
trunk,  Riley,  while  Lady  Pat  and  I  sit  on  the  window- 
seat  and  have  a  little  visit." 

"  Here  are  my  things,  too,  Riley."  Patricia  handed 
the  old  man  her  satchel  and  book.  "  Perhaps  you'd 
better  pack  those  on  top." 

"  Why  should  I  pack  thim  in  Misther  Allen's  thrunk  ?" 
he  demanded. 

"  Because  we're  going  away  to  be  married,"  she  an 
nounced,  grandly.  "  You  are  the  first  one  in  the  family 
to  know  it,  and  you  mustn't  tell." 

f  278] 


THE      LEVER 


Riley  started  to  speak,  but  a  signal  from  Allen 
silenced  him;  so  he  continued  his  work,  bringing  order 
out  of  chaos  so  quickly  that  he  won  instant  admira 
tion. 

"  Now,  look  here,  Lady  Pat,"  said  Allen,  kindly,  as 
the  child  sat  on  her  heels  in  front  of  him  on  the  win 
dow-seat,  "  we  must  talk  this  matter  over  very  care 
fully." 

"  Yes,  Sir  Launcelot,"  Patricia  assented,  expectantly. 

"  In  the  first  place,  I  have  made  your  father  very 
angry  with  me." 

"  Were  you  a  naughty  boy?" 

"  He  thinks  so,  and  he  must  be  right ;  but  it  wouldn't 
do  to  make  him  any  more  angry  by  taking  you  away 
without  his  permission.  You  see  that,  don't  you?" 

"  But  they  wouldn't  blame  you — they'd  blame  me," 
the  child  persisted.  "Alice  would  frown  at  me  and  say 
'  Pa-tri-ci-a.'  Papa  would  be  severe  and  say,  '  I  shall 
have  to  ask  mamma  Eleanor  to  punish  you,'  and  mamma 
Eleanor  would  look  sad  and  say,  '  Oh,  my  darling,'  But 
she'd  forget  all  about  it  as  soon  as  I  kissed  her." 

"  No ;  they  would  blame  me,  because  I'm  older — and, 
besides,  a  true  knight  could  never  stand  by  and  see 
his  Lady  Fair  blamed,  could  he?  The  only  thing  is 
for  me  to  go  away,  and  for  you  to  go  back  home  with 
Riley,  and  then,  later,  for  me  to  storm  the  castle  and 
carry  you  off." 

"  But  if  you  did  that,  you  might  carry  off  Alice  in 
stead  of  me,"  she  objected. 

"  That's  so,"  Allen  assented,  laughing,  "  unless  she 
hurries  up  and  gets  married.  That  was  our  agreement, 
Lady  Pat — as  long  as  Alice  is  free,  we  can't  make  any 
plans  for  ourselves." 

[279] 


THE      LEVER 


''  Wouldn't  it  be  grand  to  have  you  storm  the  castle 
and  carry  me  off!"  Patricia  was  quite  taken  by  the 
idea.  "Anyhow,  next  to  Alice,  you  love  me  best,  don't 
you,  Sir  Launcelot?" 

"  I  certainly  do,"  Allen  said,  truthfully.  "  Now, 
you'll  go  home  with  Riley  and  wait  to  see  what  hap 
pens,  won't  you?" 

"  All  right,"  the  child  said,  entirely  satisfied.  "  Gee, 
but  I  wish  Mr.  Covington  would  hurry  up !" 

Patricia  rose  obediently  and  took  Riley's  hand,  as 
they  left  the  room. 

"  Wit  ye  well,"  she  said  as  she  bade  Allen  good-bye 
at  the  elevator.  "  I  shall  wait  at  the  window  with  a 
silken  ladder  every  night  until  you  come." 

Allen  turned  slowly  back  into  his  room,  closed  the 
door,  and  sat  down  alone  on  the  window  -  seat  which 
had  so  recently  also  sustained  his  animated  little  com 
panion.  Not  until  now  had  the  full  force  of  the  wrench 
come  upon  him,  and  he  was  conscious  of  a  lump  in  his 
throat  as  he  thought  of  Alice,  first  always,  then  of 
Mr.  Gorham,  and  last  of  the  city  itself.  During  the 
months  since  he  had  accidentally  met  Alice  in  Wash 
ington,  there  had  never  been  a  wavering  of  his  purpose. 
She  was  the  one  girl  to  him  among  the  many  he  met 
during  the  social  rounds  into  which  he  had  plunged 
while  living  in  New  York.  He  had  been  undaunted  by 
her  attitude,  undismayed  by  the  seeming  hopelessness 
of  it  all — but  now  her  very  sympathy  proved  to  him 
the  necessity  of  at  last  giving  up  the  one  great  hope 
upon  which  he  had  set  his  heart.  The  pain  at  separat 
ing  from  his  chief,  while  of  a  different  nature,  was  no 
less  keen.  Mr.  Gorham  still  stood  to  Allen  as  the  epi 
tome  of  the  best  that  a  man  could  express.  The  shock 

[280] 


THE      LEVER 


which  had  come  to  him  when  Gorham  admitted  a  knowl 
edge  of  Covington's  investment  of  Alice's  money,  did 
not  weaken  his  respect  for  the  man,  but  rather  was  the 
final  event  to  convince  him  that  his  own  conception  of 
business  must  be  entirely  wrong.  If  Mr.  Gorham  sanc 
tioned  it,  then  it  was  right,  it  could  be  nothing  else; 
but  all  his  efforts,  conscientious  as  he  knew  them  to  have 
been,  to  master  the  intricacies  of  the  code  his  preceptor 
had  tried  to  teach  him,  had  accomplished  nothing. 

And  the  great  city,  which  contained  so  many  of  his 
classmates  and  friends,  who  had  made  him  welcome  in 
their  homes,  must  in  the  future  receive  him  only  as  a 
stranger.  He  loved  the  individuality  of  the  great  tow 
ering  buildings,  the  wonderful  harbor  with  its  kaleido 
scopic  shipping,  the  surging  masses  of  the  striving 
people  in  the  streets,  the  blinding  glare  of  Broadway  at 
night,  and  the  tense,  eager  business  competition  keeping 
each  man,  irrespective  of  position,  constantly  on  his 
taps  to  hold  his  own  or  to  forge  ahead  against  the  in 
coming  tide  of  growing  prosperity.  Everything  he 
craved  seemed  centred  here,  yet  he  had  been  a  part  of 
it  all,  and  had  failed  to  keep  his  grip.  His  opportunity 
had  been  given  him,  and  he  had  not  taken  advantage 
of  it.  The  city  contained  no  room  for  failures  —  only 
those  who  could  force  success  from  its  grinding  turmoil 
belonged  within  its  ever-grasping  arms.  He  must  turn 
his  back  upon  it  all,  and  go  to  some  place  less  critical, 
less  overpowering,  taking  with  him  as  memories,  in  place 
of  triumphs,  the  thoughts  of  what  might  have  been. 

Amid  the  gloom  which  surrounded  him,  a  childish 
face  forced  its  sweet  features  upon  him,  and  it  relieved 
the  tension  of  the  moment.  Dear  little  Patricia,  at 
least,  had  faith  in  him.  Alice's  attitude  was  that  of 

[281] 


THE      LEVER 


sympathy  and  pity,  but  little  Pat  saw  in  him,  the  failure, 
those  attributes  which  belong  to  the  Knight  Courageous, 
undaunted  by  the  hostile  flings  of  Fortune.  As  she 
grew  older,  she  too  would  discover  that  the  gold  was 
paint  and  the  silver,  tinsel;  but  until  then,  he  knew  her 
faith  was  in  him.  He  pressed  his  hands  against  his 
aching  temples — "  God  bless  her  for  that,"  he  said,  soft 
ly,  "  God  bless  her  for  that." 


XXVIII 


THE  first  train  which  left  Pittsburgh  after  the  ar 
rival  of  Mr.  Gorham's  letter  bore  Stephen  Sanford 
to  New  York.  Gorham  had  found  time,  even 
with  the  pressure  of  the  conflicting  details,  to  write 
his  old  friend  at  length  regarding  the  situation  which 
made  it  necessary  for  Allen  to  terminate  his  connection 
with  the  Consolidated  Companies.  There  was  no  word 
of  censure  against  the  boy — he  even  took  pains  to  ex 
press  in  full  his  admiration  for  certain  sterling  qualities 
which  this,  Allen's  first  business  experience,  had  brought 
out. 

"  The  time  has  come,"  he  wrote,  "  when  Allen  needs 
the  sympathy  and  assistance  of  his  father  more  than  he 
ever  has,  or  ever  will  need  it  again.  I  believe  I  know 
you  well  enough,  Stephen,  to  feel  certain  that  you  wont 
refuse  it  to  him  simply  because  he  has  not  asked  for  it. 
What  I  have  tried  to  do  for  him  has  been  more  for  your 
sake  than  for  his  own,  though  you  have  misunderstood 
my  motive.  The  boy  has  developed  rapidly,  and  pos 
sesses  an  ability  for  business  naturally  inherited  from 
you;  but  when  his  mind  is  once  made  up  it  seems  impossi 
ble  to  change  him.  I  hope  you  will  set  him  a  good  exam 
ple  by  showing  him  your  own  strength  of  character  in 
going  to  him  now.  As  for  our  relations,  Stephen,  in 
spite  of  the  last  stormy  interview,  and  your  attitude 

[283] 


THE      LEVER 


since,  I  know  that  I  have  no  firmer  friend  than  you,  and 
you  know  well  that  my  affection  for  you  has  not  les 
sened  because  of  anything  so  trivial  as  what  has  passed. 
Old  friends  are  like  old  wine  in  more  than  one  respect— 
the  explosion  made  by  the  blowing  out  of  the  cork  does 
not  affect  the  quality.  Come  to  me  first,  and  let  me  tell 
you  the  whole  story." 

"  I'll  do  nothing  of  the  sort,"  Sanford  fumed  as  he 
finished  the  letter ;  yet  the  first  train  leaving  Pittsburgh 
which  he  could  catch  carried  him  to  New  York. 

The  months  which  had  intervened  had  left  their  im 
press  upon  him,  and  his  friends  had  noticed  it,  though 
ignorant  of  the  cause.  Allen  had  been  away  from  home 
so  much  during  the  past  few  years,  that  his  failure  to 
appear  beneath  the  parental  roof  after  his  return  from 
Europe  was  no  occasion  for  comment.  Yet  it  was  not 
the  fact  that  he  was  separated  from  the  boy  that  wore 
on  Stephen  Sanford,  but  rather  the  knowledge  that  a 
barrier  had  arisen  between  them.  He  had  honestly  ex 
pected  that  Allen  would  refuse  to  take  him  seriously 
when  he  cast  him  adrift.  They  had  quarrelled  before 
and  nothing  had  come  of  it,  so  he  had  no  reason  to  think 
that  this  would  be  any  exception.  He  knew  the  boy's 
tastes,  and  while  blaming  him  for  his  extravagances, 
he  was  proud  to  have  him  "  live  like  a  gentleman." 
Even  with  the  income  assured  from  the  position  given 
him  by  Mr.  Gorham,  Sanford  knew  how  small  it  must 
be  compared  with  the  allowance  which  Allen  had  pre 
viously  received ;  and  he  suffered  over  again  the  priva 
tions  of  his  own  youth  while  thinking  of  the  self-denials 
which  his  son  must  be  obliged  to  practise.  Picturing 
him  living  in  a  hall  bedroom  of  meagre  proportions, 
taking  his  meals  at  cheap  restaurants  and  generally 

[284] 


THE      LEVER 


resorting  to  those  economies  common  to  ambitious 
youth  fighting  its  battle  against  the  world,  the  father 
would  many  times  have  sent  him  a  substantial  check 
if  he  could  have  made  sure  that  the  source  would  remain 
unknown. 

Yet  he  insisted  to  himself  that  Allen  must  come  to 
him.  He  would  respond  to  Gorham's  letter  to  the  extent 
of  going  to  New  York  and  discussing  the  matter,  but 
he  refused  to  admit  any  possibility  of  a  reconciliation 
unless  the  overtures  came  from  the  boy  himself.  As  he 
hastened  to  arrange  matters  for  his  departure,  he  mut 
tered  imprecations  against  him  with  the  same  breath 
that  drew  an  unquestioned  joy  from  the  thought  that 
a  sight  of  him  was  near  at  hand;  and  no  idea  entered 
his  mind  other  than  to  reach  New  York  at  the  earliest 
possible  moment. 

Covington  was  surprised  that  the  blow  did  not  fall 
upon  him  immediately  after  the  meeting  of  the  com 
mittee  adjourned.  He  was  ignorant  of  the  exact  con 
tents  of  the  papers  handed  to  Gorham  by  Litchfield, 
but  they  could  scarcely  fail  to  give  his  chief  all  the 
information  necessary  to  show  his  connection  with  the 
transaction,  and  he  knew  well  how  great  would  be  Gor 
ham's  resentment.  Yet  no  mention  was  made  of  the 
matter  during  the  few  minutes  which  remained  of  the 
business  day  after  the  others  had  taken  their  departure. 
There  were  two  or  three  routine  matters  which  Gorham 
turned  over  to  him,  with  a  few  words  of  comment,  then 
he  said  good-night  and  left  the  office.  Could  it  be  that 
something  still  intervened  to  keep  the  real  facts  cov 
ered  up? 

All  doubts  were  removed  the  following  morning. 

[285] 


THE      LEVER 


Gorham  sent  for  him  to  come  to  his  office,  and  when 
he  appeared  he  found  that  Brady  was  also  present. 
Covington  seemed  not  to  recognize  him,  but  Brady's 
face  assumed  a  significant  and  satisfied  expression. 

"  Mr.  Brady  has  been  good  enough  to  respond  to 
my  request,"  Gorham  began,  "  and  is  here  to  supply 
me  with  fuller  details  concerning  the  matter  which  was 
brought  up  at  the  meeting  of  the  committee  yesterday. 
As  it  interests  you  even  more  than  it  does  me,  I  have 
asked  you  to  be  present  during  our  interview." 

Covington  seated  himself  in  silence. 

"  Now,  Mr.  Brady,"  Gorham  continued,  "  I  under 
stand  that  you  made  a  statement  to  Mr.  Litchfield  to 
the  effect  that  I  had  personally  secured  some  of  the 
stock  in  the  New  York  Street  Railways  Company,  with 
a  view  to  profiting  by  the  advance  in  price  made  in 
evitable  by  its  proposed  merger  into  the  Manhattan 
Traction  Company,  of  which  I  was  cognizant  at  the 
time." 

"No,  I  didn't  say  all  that,"  Brady  protested;  "I 
simply  said  that  a  big  block  of  the  stock  was  bought 
for  you.  It  wasn't  necessary  to  say  why." 

"  But  you  don't  really  believe  that  this  stock  was 
purchased  for  me,  or  with  my  knowledge,  do  you?" 

Few  men  could  resist  the  frank  appeal  of  Gorham's 
eyes  when  he  chose  to  exert  it,  and  Brady  was  not  one 
of  these.  Pie  moved  uncomfortably  in  his  chair,  and 
laughed  consciously. 

"  Why,  no,  guv'nor,  since  you  put  it  that  way,  man 
to  man,  I  don't." 

"  Then  why  did  you  say  what  you  did  ?  I  can't  blame 
you  for  harboring  some  resentment  against  me  because 
I  interfered  with  your  plans  in  that  railway  deal,  but 

[286] 


THE      LEVER 


this  statement  is  so  easily  refuted  that  I  wonder  why 
you  made  it.  It  was  to  discover  this  that  I  asked  you 
to  come  here  this  morning." 

Brady  looked  over  at  Covington  meaningly.  "  That 
was  just  why  I  did  do  it,"  he  said.  "  I  knew  it  would 
bring  out  certain  facts  that  I  wanted  to  have  known. 
I  ain't  harborin'  any  resentment  against  you.  You 
licked  me,  an'  I  took  my  medicine.  P'raps  I've  worried 
you  a  bit  in  Washington  since, — that's  another  matter. 
I'm  a  sport  all  right,  an'  I  know  when  to  take  my  hat 
off  to  any  man.  But  there  is  other  slick  Alecks,  who 
think  they're  so  all-fired  smart,  that  I  like  to  get  even 
with  when  they  try  to  be  funny  with  me, — an'  there's 
one  of  'em  sittin'  in  that  chair  over  there  now." 

"  Well  —  go  on."  Gorham  encouraged  him  as  he 
paused,  at  the  same  time  studying  the  unexpressive  face 
of  Covington  as  the  man  progressed. 

"  Just  before  that  railway  deal  was  put  through,  an' 
Harris  an'  me  was  fcelin'  nervous  about  you  gettin'  so 
close  to  the  big  stockholders,  I  found  out  that  this 
Covington  here  was  saltin'  away  some  good  blocks  of 
stock  of  the  New  York  Street  Railways  Company.  He 
wasn't  buj'in'  them  direct,  you  understand,  an'  the 
stool  -  pigeon  he  was  usin'  happened  to  be  one  of  my 
own  men.  Then  I  sent  Harris  to  see  Covington,  to  get 
his  influence  with  you  to  let  our  personal  scheme  go 
through,  usin'  the  little  information  we  had  gained  to 
act  as  an  argument  to  help  him  make  up  his  mind.  He 
see  the  game  was  up,  of  course,  an'  then  he  tried  to  be 
smart.  He  had  it  all  figured  out  that  if  he  could  unload 
that  stock  on  your  daughter,  it  would  make  things  run 
easier  for  him  when  the  facts  come  out.  I  wouldn't  have 
held  this  up  against  him,  for  it  was  nothin'  but  a  cheap 

[287] 


THE      LEVER 


trick,  but  then  he  come  to  us  of  his  own  accord,  an' 
told  us  that  you  an'  him  had  gone  all  over  the  matter, 
an'  you  was  goin'  to  let  the  thing  go  through  all  right. 
Well,  you  remember  what  happened.  He  evidently 
went  right  back  to  you  an'  told  you  what  we  had  up 
our  sleeve.  I  swore  then  I'd  get  even  with  him,  an'  this 
is  the  way  I  chose  to  do  it." 

"  That's  the  whole  story,  is  it  ?"  Gorham  asked. 

"  Yes ;  unless  friend  Covington  here  can  add  a  few 
details." 

"  I  don't  think  he  can, — but  you  do  him  an  injustice 
in  thinking  that  he  spoke  to  me  of  your  plans.  His 
failure  to  do  so  is  noteworthy,  but  it  affects  others  rather 
than  yourself.  I  am  exceedingly  obliged  to  you  for  your 
time  and  frankness.  I  wTill  not  detain  you  further  unless 
Mr.  Covington  would  like  to  make  any  comments." 

"  I  have  nothing  to  say,"  Covington  replied. 

Gorham  waited  until  Brady  had  made  his  departure 
before  he  turned  to  the  man  sitting  in  silence  before  him. 

"  This  is  all  that  is  needed  to  make  the  blow  complete, 
is  it  not?"  he  asked,  in  a  voice  which  betrayed  the  feel 
ing  beneath  by  its  quiet  restraint.  "  Even  the  awakening 
which  came  to  me  when  the  committee  showed  their  real 
selves  was  not  enough.  I  still  believed  that  I  could 
carry  through  my  purpose,  and  I  relied  on  you  to  help 
make  this  possible.  I,  who  felt  myself  strong  enough 
to  undertake  the  revolutionizing  of  the  business  world 
because  of  my  magnificent  support,  find  myself,  like 
Samson,  shorn  of  my  strength,  and  face  to  face  with  a 
realization  that  man  is  by  nature  the  cringing  slave 
of  the  almighty  dollar.  He  may,  for  a  time,  or  for  a 
purpose,  disguise  it  even  from  himself,  but  when  the 
real  test  comes,  he  'dare  not  disregard  the  compelling 

[288] 


THE      LEVER 


voice  of  his  master.  This  is  enough  of  an  awakening, 
but  think  of  the  pain  which  accompanies  it  when  one 
finds  that  the  friend  in  whom  he  trusted,  that  the  one 
man  whom  he  was  most  proud  to  honor,  fails  even  to 
measure  up  to  the  simple  test  of  honesty !  Oh,  Coving- 
ton,  I  find  it  hard  to  bring  myself  to  believe  it !" 

"  What  do  you  propose  to  do  ?"  Covington  asked. 

"  First  of  all,  I  shall  place  the  facts  before  the  Di 
rectors.  They  at  least  shall  know  that  I  have  not  been 
false  to  them  or  to  myself." 

"When  will  you  do  this?" 

"  As  soon  as  possible, — this  afternoon  if  I  can  get 
them  together." 

"  Would  you  mind  postponing  it  until  to-morrow?" 

"  What  is  to  be  gained  by  that?" 

"  May  I  have  an  interview  with  you  at  your  house 
to-night?  It  is  for  this  that  I  ask  the  postponement." 

"  Certainly,"  Gorham  replied,  wonderingly.  "  I  will 
see  you  at  nine  o'clock." 

"  I  thank  you,"  said  Covington,  rising  and  leaving 
the  office  without  further  comment. 
19 


XXIX 


GORHAM  received  two  callers  on  that  Saturday 
night.  Sanford  came  first,  and  the  heartiness 
of  the  welcome  extended  him  thawed  out  the 
blustering  exterior  which  made  it  so  difficult  for  the 
warm  heart  underneath  to  assert  itself. 

"  I  never  was  so  proud  of  any  one,"  cried  Gorham, 
with  more  enthusiasm  than  he  often  manifested.  "  Now 
it  is  the  old  Stephen  I  used  to  know  and  love,  acting  his 
own  self  once  more !  But  you  are  going  to  have  your 
chance  to  crow  over  me.  Stephen,  I've  been  a  more 
obstinate  old  fool  than  you  ever  thought  of  being,  and 
I'm  going  to  make  you  my  father-confessor." 

Then  he  told  him  of  Allen's  development,  from  the 
first  day  he  entered  the  offices  of  the  Consolidated  Com 
panies  down  to  the  time  when  he  had  himself  sent  the 
boy  away  from  him  in  anger.  He  even  told  him  of  the 
crisis  in  the  corporation,  knowing  that  their  conversa 
tion  was  sacred  to  his  old  friend.  Then  he  dwelt  on 
Allen's  courage  in  the  face  of  his  own  blindness,  and  his 
admiration  for  the  boy's  attitude  throughout. 

"  He  is  planning  to  go  back  to  you,  Stephen,  but  I 
sha'n't  let  him  if  I  can  help  it.  I  have  made  him  think 
that  his  work  has  been  a  failure,  when  in  reality  his 
vision  has  been  clearer  than  mine.  But  don't  tell  him 
this.  Let  your  talk  be  of  yourselves.  Then  bring  him  to 

[290] 


THE      LEVER 


me  to-morrow  for  dinner,  and  let  me  show  him  what  he 
really  is." 

"  I  told  you  he'd  make  a  fine  business  man,"  Stephen 
could  not  resist  saying.  "  You  remember  that." 

"  I  do,"  laughed  Gorham.  "  That  is  why  I  gave 
him  the  chance.  You  remember  asking  me  to  do  it, 
don't  you  ?" 

"  There's  another  thing  I  told  you,  Robert, — that 
you  never  could  do  business  on  the  basis  you  planned 
unless  you  had  angels  all  the  way  up  from  the  office 
boy  to  the  Board  of  Directors." 

"  It  has  been  my  fault  in  not  being  able  to  distinguish 
between  angels  and  mortals,"  Gorham  replied  seriously, 
his  mind  reverting  to  the  great  problem  which  still  lay 
unsolved  before  him.  "  I  am  not  willing  yet  to  admit 
that  the  basis  is  wrong, — the  error  must  rest  in  the 
building.  Good-night,  Stephen.  Be  sure  to  bring  Allen 
with  you  to-morrow." 

Covington  entered  the  library,  walking  with  short, 
quick  steps  quite  unlike  his  usual  deliberate  gait,  and 
sat  down  in  the  chair  just  vacated  by  Mr.  Sanford. 
Gorham  noted  at  once  the  change  which  had  come  over 
his  features,  even  during  the  few  hours  which  had 
elapsed  since  morning.  For  the  first  time  his  eyes 
showed  a  nervous  unrest,  the  lines  about  his  mouth  had 
settled  into  a  hard,  disagreeable  expression,  and  his 
whole  manner  evidenced  the  strain  he  was  enduring. 
Gorham  noted  all  this,  and  in  a  measure  it  surprised 
him.  If  Covington  was  so  constituted  that  he  could 
play  the  hypocrite,  he  would  not  have  supposed  his 
sensibilities  acute  enough  to  overwhelm  him  in  the  un 
masking. 

[  291  ] 


THE     LEVER 


"  You  are  wondering  why  I  desired  this  interview," 
Covington  began.  "  You  cannot  understand  what  there 
is  left  for  me  to  say  to  you  in  view  of  what  has  hap 
pened.  I  could  have  bluffed  this  out  for  a  time,  but  it 
was  no  use.  There  are  other  developments  which  will  fol 
low  on  the  heels  of  this  which  make  it  useless  to  temporize. 
I  have  played  the  game  my  way,  letting  you  make  the 
rules,  believing  that  when  it  came  to  the  showdown  my 
cards  would  be  strong  enough  to  win.  They  would  be 
under  normal  circumstances,  but  you've  called  my  hand 
too  soon.  You  see  before  you  a  desperate  man,  Mr. 
Gorham,  upon  whom  you  have  forced  the  necessity  of 
taking  a  gambler's  chance.  That  is  why  I  am  here 
to-night." 

"  You  must  be  implicated  in  matters  far  deeper  than 
I  have  knowledge  to  talk  like  this,  Covington.  You 
have  been  false  to  me  and  false  to  the  Companies,  but 
after  all  there  is  nothing  criminal  in  what  you  have 
done.  To  me,  the  greatest  crime  a  man  can  commit 
is  so  to  forget  the  manhood  with  which  his  Maker 
endowed  him,  as  to  prostitute  it  for  temporary  personal 
advantage,  but  the  law  looks  upon  other  lesser  crimes 
as  deserving  of  greater  punishment.  I  cannot  tell  how 
much  of  a  lesson  this  may  be  to  you.  It  will,  of  course, 
be  necessary  for  you  to  leave  New  York,  as  the  com 
mittee,  however  much  they  may  criticise  my  code,  have 
one  of  their  own  which  you  have  transgressed.  As  far 
as  I  am  concerned,  you  may  have  no  anxiety.  I  have 
too  many  important  matters  in  hand  to  wish  to  divert 
myself  from  them  simply  to  make  you  pay  the  penalty 
you  owe  me." 

"  I  am  implicated  deeper  than  you  know,  but  I  am 
here  to  make  terms  rather  than  accept  them,"  Covington 

[292] 


THE      LEVER 


replied.  "  I  do  not  choose  to  begin  life  over  again,  and 
I  require  your  definite  assurances  that  whatever  you 
know  or  may  learn  against  me  be  kept  from  the  knowl 
edge  of  the  committee.  At  present  I  hold  their  con 
fidence,  and  I  am  not  willing  to  relinquish  it.  What  I 
have  done  in  this  stock  transaction  will  not  strike  them  as 
so  serious  a  matter  as  you  make  of  it.  I  venture  to 
say  that  I  am  not  the  only  one  of  them  to  do  it." 

Gorham  looked  at  him  keenly.  "  This  is  the  talk  of 
a  man  bereft  of  his  senses." 

"  I  told  you  I  was  desperate,  and  so  I  am.  I  have 
been  working  all  my  life  to  gain  the  position  of  wealth 
and  power  which  is  now  within  my  grasp,  and  you  shall 
not  keep  me  from  it." 

"  You  yourself  have  made  its  attainment  impos 
sible." 

"  Next  to  you,  I  am  the  one  man  most  competent  to 
conduct  the  affairs  of  the  Consolidated  Companies.  You 
yourself  have  trained  me  to  be  your  successor.  The 
committee  know  this,  and  they  also  know  that  with 
me  at  the  head,  the  Companies  will  be  run  as  they  wish 
it.  They  are  eager  to  have  the  change,  and  only  fear 
your  influence  against  the  corporation  if  they  force 
you  out." 

"  All  that  may  have  been  true,  Covington,  in  the  past. 
Not  one  of  them  would  trust  you  now." 

"  They  know  nothing  which  reflects  upon  my  char 
acter,  and  they  must  not  know.  You  and  they  can 
never  continue  together, — it  is  hopeless  to  expect  a 
compromise.  I  am  the  only  man  who  can  hold  these 
forces  together,  and  you  must  give  me  this  chance." 

Gorham  could  only  believe  that  the  excitement  which 
controlled  Covington  had  affected  him  to  the  extent  of 

[293] 


irresponsibility,  and  his  unusual  manner  heightened  the 
impression. 

"  I  see  no  reason  to  continue  this  interview,"  he  said 
shortly.  "  You  speak  of  what  must  and  shall  happen 
when  the  shaping  of  events  has  already  passed  from 
your  control." 

"You  think  it  has,  Mr.  Gorham;  but  that  is  where 
the  gambler's  chance  comes  in.  It  is  a  desperate 
chance,  and  it  is  one  which  I  could  never  have  believed 
myself  capable  of  taking.  It  simply  shows  how  far  a 
man  will  go  when  forced  against  the  wall." 

"  I  am  tiring  of  this  play-acting,"  protested  Gorham. 
"  If  you  have  anything  to  say,  say  it,  or  else  leave  me 
to  devote  my  time  to  matters  which  require  it." 

Covington  hesitated  even  then.  The  weapon  was 
an  ugly  one  to  handle,  and  there  were  elements  in  him 
which  rebelled.  Slowly  he  drew  the  bulky  paper  from 
his  pocket,  not  meeting  Gorham's  steady  gaze. 

"More  affidavits?"  asked  Gorham.  "What  is  the 
nature  of  them  this  time?" 

"  I  am  more  keenly  aware  of  how  despicable  this  is 
than  you  will  give  me  credit,"  he  said.  "  I  have  lived 
among  gentlemen  long  enough  to  recognize  that  to  those 
who  know  of  this,  my  act  separates  me  from  the  society 
of  which  I  have  been  a  part.  But  I  have  chosen.  With 
the  wealth  and  power  which  this  will  bring  me,  I  can 
buy  back  what  now  I  seem  to  forfeit." 

He  placed  the  papers  in  Mr.  Gorham's  hands,  turn 
ing  his  pale  face  away,  and  drumming  nervously  on  the 
arm  of  his  chair  with  his  fingers.  The  minutes  seemed 
hours,  and  when  he  turned,  he  found  Gorham's  pene 
trating  eye  fixed  firmly  upon  him.  He  had  counted  on 
the  strength  of  the  statements  contained  in  the  affidavits 

1294] 


THE      LEVER 


to  protect  him  from  personal  violence,  yet  he  half  sus 
pected  Gorham's  purpose  when  he  rose.  His  host, 
however,  walked  quietly  to  the  wrall  and  pressed  the 
button,  then  noiselessly  resumed  his  seat.  The  awful 
silence  was  in  itself  a  strain  on  Covington.  He  wished 
Gorhain  would  speak,  even  though  he  thought  he  knew 
the  nature  of  what  those  first  words  would  be.  Presently 
Riley  opened  the  door. 

"  Ask  Mrs.  Gorharn  and  Miss  Alice  to  come  here, 
Riley." 

"  Not  Alice !"  Covington  cried. 

Again  silence  pervaded  the  room,  Gorham  rereading 
the  papers,  and  Covington  still  drumming  on  the  arm  of 
his  chair.  As  Eleanor  and  Alice  entered  they  greeted 
Covington  cordially,  but  he  drew  back  without  accepting 
the  outstretched  hands. 

"  We  have  a  matter  to  discuss  which  affects  us  all," 
Gorham  said,  handing  Eleanor  one  of  the  papers. 
"  Please  read  this,  but  make  no  comment  until  later." 

The  first  few  words  conveyed  its  nature  to  her,  and 
she  swayed  for  a  moment  as  if  she  might  fall.  Alice 
sprang  to  her  side. 

"  What  is  it,  Eleanor, — let  me  read  it  with  you. 
Shall  I,  daddy?" 

Gorham  nodded.  When  they  had  finished,  Eleanor 
started  to  speak,  but  her  husband  checked  her.  The 
momentary  faintness  had  passed,  and  she  stood  erect, 
eager  for  the  word  from  Gorham  which  would  permit 
her  to  break  the  silence. 

"  Where  did  this  come  from  ?"  Alice  demanded. 

"  Mr.  Covington  just  brought  it  to  me." 

"  What  did  you  do  to  the  man  who  dared  to  draw  it 
up?"  she  asked  indignantly  of  Covington. 

f'2951 


THE      LEVER 


"  Mr.  Covington  is  the  man  who  had  it  drawn  up," 
her  father  answered.  "  Now  we  will  listen  to  what  he 
has  to  say  about  it." 

The  man  squared  himself  for  the  issue. 

"  You  have  read  it,"  he  said  huskily,  "  and  you  value 
your  wife's  reputation?" 

"  Yes,  beyond  anything*  and  everything  else." 

"  Beyond  the  Consolidated  Companies  and  the  grat 
ification  of  injuring  me  with  the  committee?" 

"  Yes." 

Covington  gained  confidence  from  the  ease  with  which 
all  was  moving.  A  few  minutes  more  of  this  as  against 
a  lifetime  of  wealth  and  power !  It  was  worth  the  deg 
radation.  "  It  is  sometimes  necessary  to  walk  through 
filth  and  slime  to  attain  high  places,"  he  remembered 
Gorham  had  once  told  him. 

"  Would  you  agree  to  stand  one  side  and  give  me 
this  chance,  rather  than  have  a  blemish  on  your  wife's 
name  made  public?" 

"  Yes,"  was  the  firm  reply. 

Eleanor  had  lived  a  century  during  the  conversation. 
Sitting  now  in  the  shadow  of  the  room,  she  turned  her 
eyes  first  toward  one  speaker  and  then  the  other,  won 
dering  all  the  while  how  it  was  to  end.  If  only  she  had 
told  Robert  herself  before  this  moment !  She  could  not 
understand  her  husband's  passive  attitude.  She  knew 
him  to  be  slow  to  anger,  yet  she  also  knew  well  the 
strength  of  the  passion  which  lay  controlled  beneath 
his  calm  exterior.  What  Covington  had  said  and  the 
manner  in  which  he  had  said  it  would,  under  ordinary 
circumstances,  have  aroused  Gorham  to  stern  indigna 
tion.  She  could  only  attribute  his  present  patience  to 
an  uncertainty  which  lay  in  his  own  mind  as  to  the 

"[  296  1 


THE      LEVER 


truth  of  the  story  which  lie  had  read;  but  when  he  an 
swered  Covington's  questions,  indicating  which  choice 
he  would  make,  she  could  endure  it  no  longer.  Rising 
quickly,  she  stood  between  the  two  men,  her  face  turned 
toward  Gorham. 

"Robert,"  she  said,  "what  do  you  mean?  This 
man  is  asking  you  to  give  up  the  Consolidated  Com 
panies." 

"  I  understand  it,  Eleanor,"  Gorham  replied.  "  I 
would  prefer  to  do  so  rather  than  have  a  single  breath 
of  scandal  or  even  suspicion  attach  itself  to  you." 

Eleanor  drew  herself  up  very  straight,  and,  paying 
no  attention  to  Covington,  she  addressed  herself  pas 
sionately  to  her  husband. 

"  Look  at  me,  Robert,  look  into  my  eyes,  and  tell  me 
if  you  see  there  anything  of  which  I  need  to  feel 
ashamed.  You  have  read  this  story,  now  you  shall  hear 
mine.  It  is  one  which  you  should  have  heard  long  ago, 
Robert,  but  I  hesitated  to  speak,  not  because  I  was 
ashamed  of  anything  which  happened,  but  because  I 
feared  just  the  interpretation  which  has  now  been  put 
upon  it.  You  know  all  about  my  marriage  to  Ralph 
Buckner;  you  know  all  about  Carina's  death,  and  you 
shall  know  all  which  I  am  able  to  tell  any  one,  or  which 
I  myself  know,  of  what  happened  during  the  awful  days 
which  followed." 

Eleanor's  voice  trembled,  but  the  excitement  of  the 
moment  kept  her  from  breaking  down. 

"  When  I  lifted  that  little  form  from  the  trail  and 
pressed  it  to  my  heart  I  knew  that  she  was  dead.  My 
one  thought  in  the  face  of  the  awful  blow  which  had 
come  to  me  was  to  get  away  from  the  man  who  had 
inflicted  it.  Somehow,  with  Carina  in  my  arms,  I  got 

[297] 


THE      LEVER 


upon  the  marc,  and  again  I  strained  the  little  body  to 
my  heart  and  forgot  all  else  except  my  overpowering 
grief.  The  mare  walked  on  unguided,  uncontrolled, — I 
knew  not  where,— I  cared  not  where.  I  believe  I  never 
should  have  stopped  her  myself,  but  suddenly  a  man 
appeared  by  the  side  of  the  trail  who  saw  that  some 
thing  was  wrong,  and  he  asked  if  he  could  be  of  help. 
At  these  first  words  of  sympathy  I  lost  control  of 
myself,  and  made  some  incoherent  reply.  From  that 
time  on  I  was  a  child  myself,  and  he  a  kind,  loving, 
guiding  father.  Walking  beside  me  and  helping  to 
support  me,  we  soon  reached  the  shack  in  which  he 
lived.  He  took  the  dead  child  from  my  arms,  and  car 
ried  it  tenderly  into  the  house ;  then  he  came  back  and 
helped  me  to  dismount.  He  asked  no  further  questions, 
but  led  me  inside,  too,  soothing  my  outburst  of  grief  as 
the  reaction  came  in  full  force.  Of  what  happened  after 
ward  I  have  no  memory.  For  the  time,  I  lost  my  rea 
son,  and  he,  day  by  day,  night  by  night,  watched  over 
me,  bathing  my  hot  forehead,  moistening  my  parched 
lips,  trying  to  give  me  courage  to  pass  through  the 
awful  ordeal. 

"  It  was  all  of  two  weeks  that  I  was  there,  so  he  told 
me  afterward.  As  my  reason  returned,  his  first  thought 
was  to  get  me  back  to  my  father's  ranch,  having 
learned  who  I  was  and  enough  of  what  had  happened 
to  understand  the  situation.  Before  we  left,  he  took 
me  to  the  little  mound  back  of  the  shack,  where  I  said 
'  good-bye '  to  the  one  ray  of  sunshine  which  had 
entered  my  life  during  those  awful  years.  Then  he 
helped  me  on  my  mare  and  mounted  his  own  horse. 
Together  we  rode  silently  back  over  the  seven  or  eight 
miles,  only  to  learn  that  my  father  had  suddenly  died, 

[  2*98  ] 


THE      LEVER 


partly  from  the  shock  and  partly  from  my  unexplained 
absence.  The  old  man's  strength  could  not  endure  the 
double  blow. 

"  In  dismay  I  turned  to  my  protector,  and  he  at  once 
answered  the  query  which  he  read  in  my  eyes.  He  made 
arrangements,  and  accompanied  me  to  Denver,  leaving 
me  in  a  hospital  there,  where  for  two  months  I  hovered 
between  life  and  death,  owing  to  a  relapse.  I  saw  him 
only  once  again,  when  he  came  to  the  hospital  and  told 
me  that  he  had  placed  my  affairs  in  the  hands  of  a 
certain  lawyer,  who  would  look  after  what  property  my 
father  left,  and  would  advise  me  after  I  was  able  to 
leave  the  hospital.  Then  he  passed  out  of  my  life, 
though  I  was  told  later  that  he  stayed  in  Denver  until 
I  was  out  of  danger,  before  he  returned  East.  In  my 
condition  and  because  of  the  excitement,  his  name  was 
a  blank  to  me  from  the  moment  I  left  the  hospital,  and 
I  have  striven  ever  since  to  recall  it.  The  lawyer  to 
whom  he  referred  me  professed  not  to  know  it,  and 
simply  said  that  the  man  had  described  himself  as  a 
prospector  from  the  East." 

As  Eleanor  paused  from  weakness,  Covington  glanced 
across  to  Gorham. 

"  Her  story  doesn't  differ  much  from  that  contained 
in  the  affidavit,"  he  remarked. 

"  No,"  Gorham  answered,  shortly ;  "  it  is  the  same 
story  with  a  different  interpretation." 

"  What  do  you  think  of  it  now?" 

"  Just  as  I  have  from  the  beginning." 

"  You  don't  believe  me !"  Eleanor  cried,  half-besecch- 
ingly,  half-reproachfully.  "  I  don't  wonder, — it  is  past 
belief." 

"  You  must  believe  her,  daddy,"  Alice  insisted,  ready 

[  299  ]  " 


THE      LEVER 


to  burst  into  tears ;  "  she  has  tried  so  many  times  to  tell 

you." 

"  I  do  believe  you,  Eleanor,"  Gorham  replied.  "  And 
what  is  more,  I  know  that  you  speak  the  truth." 

"  The  public  may  not  be  so  generous,"  suggested 
Covington. 

"  You  forget  that  I  have  great  faith  in  that  same 
public,"  Gorham  answered,  strangely  calm  in  the  face 
of  such  great  provocation. 

"  You  know  it,  Robert?"  Eleanor  asked,  scarcely 
believing  what  she  heard.  "How  can  you  know  it? 
You  mean  that  your  faith  in  me  is  strong  enough  to 
make  you  believe  it." 

"  You  may  tell  them  that  story,  Covington,"  Gorham 
said,  rising ;  "  but  it  will  make  it  even  more  interesting 
if  you  add  the  finale  which  you  are  going  to  witness 
now." 

Then  he  turned  to  his  wife  and  took  her  hand  in 
his. 

"  Would  you  know  that  prospector  if  you  saw  him 
again?"  he  asked. 

"  I  am  sure  I  should,"  she  replied,  wonderingly. 

"  Must  he  still  wear  his  full  beard  and  his  old  cor 
duroy  clothes,  with  a  blue  handkerchief  knotted  around 
his  throat,  to  recall  himself  to  you?  Must  I  tell  you 
that  he  called  himself  'Roberts'  ?" 

"  Roberts !"  she  gasped,  gazing  at  him  spellbound, — 
"  how  could  you  know  ?" 

"  Look  at  me  again,  Eleanor,"  he  urged  with  infinite 
tenderness,  but  with  an  eager  expectancy  manifest  in 
every  feature,—"  look  hard." 

She  drew  back  speechless  as  the  truth  came  to  her. 

"  Oh,  my  Robert,"  she  cried  at  last,  with  a  joy  in 
[300] 


THE      LEVER 


her  voice  which  thrilled  her  hearers,  "  you — you  were 
that  man !" 

It  seemed  a  sacrilege  to  the  two  spectators  of  the  un 
expected  climax  of  this  intimate  personal  drama  to  re 
main,  so  instinctively  they  both  withdrew  silently  to 
the  drawing-room,  leaving  Eleanor  closely  enfolded  in 
her  husband's  arms.  For  the  first  time  since  Coving- 
ton  had  disclosed  himself,  Alice  was  alone  with  him. 
Wrought  up  as  the  girl  had  been  by  the  conflicting 
emotions  which  had  consumed  her  strength  during  the 
past  moments,  and  relieved  beyond  measure  by  the  final 
outcome  of  what  had  promised  only  a  tragedy,  yet  her 
eyes  filled  with  tears  as  she  looked  at  him. 

"  Why  did  you  do  this?"  she  asked.  "  Why  did  you 
come  into  my  life  to  teach  me  that  this  beautiful  world 
of  ours  can  contain  so  much  that  is  bad? — you,  whom  I 
respected  and  admired,  and  wrhom  I  was  beginning  to 
believe  I  loved?  How  could  you  do  it?" 

Covington  made  no  answer  to  the  impelling  voice 
which  spoke.  The  girl,  with  her  varying  moods  and 
changing  conceits,  who  had  so  amused  him,  had  van 
ished,  and  in  her  place  he  saw  the  woman,  supreme  in 
the  strength  of  asserting  that  which  is  ever  woman's 
creed, — justice  and  right.  He  could  sense,  in  her  at 
titude,  as  in  her  words,  that  her  resentment  was  not 
because  of  the  indignity  which  he  had  forced  upon 
herself,  but  rather  because  of  the  wrrong  he  had  done 
to  those  she  loved.  What  a  woman  to  have  called  his 
wife, — what  a  woman  to  have  lived  up  to  as  a  hus 
band  ! 

"  I  must  see  your  father  again,"  he  said  when  he 
spoke  at  last,  "  Let  us  go  back  to  them." 

[301] 


THE      LEVER 


Covington  stood  in  the  doorway  of  the  library  as 
Alice  slipped  quietly  into  the  room  and  took  her  place 
beside  Eleanor  and  her  father.  As  he  looked  upon  the 
three,  forming  a  group  into  which  he  had  almost  en 
tered,  he  realized  the  infinite  distance  which  now 
separated  them.  Their  total  disregard  of  his  presence, 
Gorham's  lack  of  open  resentment,  Alice's  indifference, 
— all  told  him  that  in  their  eyes  he  was  only  the  pariah, 
beneath  their  contempt,  suffered  to  remain  there  until 
he  saw  fit  to  rid  them  of  his  presence.  Yet  he  could 
not  leave  them  thus.  Somewhere  within  him  a  some 
thing,  until  now  quiescent,  demanded  recognition  and 
insisted  upon  expression.  Why  had  it  waited  until  now ! 
It  was  a  changed  John  Covington  who  spoke  from  that 
doorway,  when  at  last  silence  became  unendurable.  The 
hard  lines  in  the  face  had  softened,  and  the  previously 
insistent  voice  now  betrayed  realization  of  the  present, 
and  hopelessness  for  the  future.  The  fires  of  truth  and 
love  and  faith  and  honor,  which  burned  so  brightly  be 
fore  him,  at  least  touched  him  with  their  heat.  God 
pity  him ! 

"  It  is  all  over,  Mr.  Gorham,"  he  forced  himself  to 
say.  "  It  is  not  you  who  have  defeated  me,  it  is  I  who 
have  defeated  myself.  I  offer  no  defence.  I  despised 
myself  before  I  did  this,  I  despise  myself  still  further 
for  having  done  it.  I  could  not  believe  you  sincere, — I 
could  not  believe  any  man  capable  of  living  the  creed 
you  preached.  I  accept  the  penalty  which  you  or  other 
men  may  impose  upon  me." 

"  You  have  imposed  your  own  penalty,  Covington," 
Gorham  replied.  "  You,  who  have  destroyed  the  way- 
marks  to  misguide  others,  now  find  yourself  adrift  be 
cause  of  your  own  act.  You  are  a  young  man.  If  you 

[302] 


THE      LEVER 


are  honest  in  what  you  now  say,  there  is  still  hope  for 
you.  Fight  those  overpowering  ambitions  which  have 
brought  you  to  the  brink  until  you  have  them  properly 
controlled,  then  guide  your  undoubted  abilities  along 
lines  which  men  recognize  as  true." 

Covington  bowed  his  head,  and  without  a  word  dis 
appeared.  As  the  outer  door  closed  Alice  turned  to  her 
father,  but  her  thought  was  not  of  the  man  who  had 
passed  from  their  lives. 

"You  were  that  prospector,  daddy?  Why  did  you 
never  tell  Eleanor?" 

"  I  have  tried  to  make  her  recognize  me  ever  since  we 
were  married,  dear.  I  have  tried  to  make  her  tell  me 
the  story,  hoping  that  the  repetition  might  recall  in  her 
heart  some  association  which  would  link  me  with  that 
past,  sad  as  it  was  to  her.  You  never  knew,  Alice,  of 
that  experience  when  I  went  West  in  search  of  health, 
but  now  you  know  why  I  hurried  back  to  Denver ;  Avhy 
I  kept  myself  constantly  informed  regarding  the  recov 
ery  and  later  life  of  this  little  woman  who  came  into  my 
heart  during  those  days  when  she  was  passing  through 
her  agony.  I  loved  her  then,  but  she  was  another  man's 
wife.  I  knew  when  the  court  gave  her  back  her  free 
dom,  and  I  lost  no  time  in  winning  her  at  the  first  op 
portunity  which  offered." 

"  How  could  I  have  recognized  you,  ill  as  I  was  then, 
—  and  without  your  old  prospector's  clothes  and  your 
full  beard?  You  should  have  told  me." 

"  I  wanted  your  love,  dear  heart,  not  your  gratitude." 

She  tenderly  pushed  back  the  gray  hair  from  the  high 
forehead,  and  pressed  her  lips  against  it  reverently. 

"  You  have  both,  Robert. — you  have  always  had 
them." 

[303] 


XXX 


SANFORD  located  Allen's  apartment  from  the  ad 
dress  Gorham  had  given  him.  He  stood  before  the 
entrance  for  several  moments,  regarding  its  pre 
tentious  appearance  and  the  aristocratic  neighborhood. 

"  Gorham  must  have  made  a  mistake,' '  he  muttered ; 
"  this  can't  be  the  place." 

But  the  handsome  Gothic  figures  over  the  doorway 
corresponded  with  those  written  upon  the  slip  of  paper, 
so  he  approached  the  elevator  boy,  resplendent  in  his 
brass  buttons. 

"  Does  Mr.  Allen  Sanford  live  here?"  he  demanded. 

"  Yes,  sir;  eighth  floor.     What  name  shall  I  say,  sir?" 

"  You  needn't  say  any  name, — I'll  say  it  myself.  I'm 
his  father.  Rents  must  be  cheaper  than  ^hey  used  to 
be,"  he  remarked  to  himself  in  the  elevator.  "  I  guess 
the  boy  hasn't  suffered  much." 

Allen  had  just  risen  from  the  window-seat  after  the 
painful  revery  he  had  indulged  in  since  Patricia  and 
Riley  left  him.  The  ringing  of  the  bell  annoyed  him. 
He  was  in  no  mood  to  see  any  one,  and  he  resented  the 
intrusion.  Then  he  threw  the  door  open  and  saw  his 
father  standing  there.  For  a  long  moment  he  stood 
speechless  with  amazement,  when  his  face  broke  into  a 
smile  of  welcome  which  touched  the  old  man's  heart. 

"  The  pater !"  he  cried,  and  in  another  moment  he 
[304] 


THE      LEVER 


had  him  grasped  in  his  arms  with  a  grip  which  almost 
crushed  him. 

"  What  do  you  mean,  you  young  reprobate,"  San- 
ford  gasped,  struggling  to  escape.  "  I'm  not  a  football 
dummy.  Let  me  get  my  breath." 

Allen  dragged  him  into  the  room,  unwilling  to  release 
him. 

"  The  dear  old  pater,"  he  cried  again,  depositing  him 
in  the  great  Morris  chair,  and  drawing  back  to  regard 
him  joyfully.  "You've  come  just  in  time.  There  arc 
my  trunks  packed  all  ready  to  go  to  you.  You  said  I'd 
come  back,  and  you  were  right.  Oh,  pater,  I've  made 
an  awful  mess  of  things.  You  knew  that  I  was  no  good, 
but  I've  had  to  find  it  out  for  myself." 

"  Nothing  of  the  sort,"  blubbered  the  old  man,  striv 
ing  earnestly  to  conceal  the  emotion  which  almost  over 
came  him  as  a  result  of  the  boy's  welcome.  "  Any  one 
who  says  you're  no  good  will  have  to  settle  with  me. 
You're  my  son,  that's  what  you  are,  and  no  Sanford 
was  ever  a  failure  yet." 

"  Then  you  must  keep  me  from  being  the  first." 

"  Nothing  of  the  sort; — why  do  you  try  to  make  me 
lose  my  temper?  Gorham  says — 

"You've  seen  Mr.  Gorham?"  Allen  interrupted,  his 
heart  leaping  at  the  sound  of  the  name.  "  What  did  he 
say?" 

"  Never  mind  what  he  said,"  Sanford  replied,  re 
membering  the  injunction  laid  upon  him.  Then  he 
looked  about  him.  "  Gorham  must  have  paid  you  a 
good  deal  more  than  you  were  worth,"  he  remarked 
significantly. 

"He  did,"  admitted  Allen,  and  then  divining  what 
was  in  his  father's  mind ;  "  but  not  enough  for  this." 
20  [  305  ] 


THE      LEVER 


"  You've  run  in  debt,  have  you  ?"  Allen  noticed  that 
the  question  did  not  contain  the  usual  sting.  The 
old  man  would  have  rejoiced  at  this  opportunity  to 
express  his  sympathy  in  the  only  way  he  knew  how. 

"  Not  yet.  I  sold  my  motor  and  some  other 
things." 

"  Had  to  live  like  a  gentleman,  whatever  your  salary, 
didn't  you?" 

"  I  ought  not  to  have  done  it,"  the  boy  admitted. 

"  Nothing  of  the  sort,"  Sanford  sputtered,  again 
resorting  to  his  favorite  phrase.  "  My  son  has  to  live 
like  a  gentleman, —  that's  what  I  educated  him  for.  Now 
help  me  off  with  my  coat,  and  tell  me  all  the  damn  fool 
things  you've  been  doing." 

Their  conference  lasted  well  into  the  afternoon, — an 
afternoon  filled  with  surprises  for  them  both.  For  the 
first  time  Allen  found  his  father  an  interested,  sympa 
thetic  listener ;  for  the  first  time  Stephen  Sanford  came 
to  know  his  son.  The  boy  made  no  effort  to  spare 
himself,  though  eager  for  his  father  to  realize  that  he 
had  been  earnest  and  industrious,  albeit  the  net  results 
of  this  had  been  but  failure.  Mr.  Gorham  had  done  so 
much  for  him,  and  he  had  tried  to  assimilate  the  lessons 
both  from  his  deeds  and  from  his  words ;  but  instead 
he  had  seen  chimseras  breathing  fire  at  every  turn,  and 
had  charged  them  quixote-like  to  find  them  but  wind 
mills,  harmful  only  to  himself.  He  enlarged  upon  the 
personal  characteristics  of  the  directors  and  the  other 
business  men  with  whom  he  came  in  contact, — many  of 
them  well  known  to  his  listener, — and  Sanford  mar 
velled  at  the  accuracy  of  the  boy's  insight,  and  the 
integrity  of  the  portraits.  Gorham  was  right, — Allen 
had  developed,  and  far  beyond  what  he  himself  realized. 

[306] 


THE     LEVER 


He  was  now  a  man  to  be  reckoned  with  rather  than  a 
boy  to  be  disciplined. 

The  old  man's  keen  business  sense  also  for  the  first 
time  grasped  the  tremendous  scope  of  Gorham's  gigantic 
project.  There  was  no  room  left  to  doubt  the  strength 
of  the  appeal  of  the  absolute  honesty  of  purpose  after 
listening  to  Allen's  unconsciously  irresistible  testimony. 
In  words  made  pregnant  by  the  simplicity  of  their 
utterance,  he  described  Gorham  the  man  and  Gorham 
the  Colossus  of  the  business  world;  he  pictured  the 
waves  of  avarice  and  intrigue  and  discontent  which  he 
thought  he  saw  beating  against  the  feet  of  this  towering 
figure,  unheeded  and  unrecognized  because  so  far  be 
neath  it;  he  told  of  his  own  puny  efforts  to  warn  this 
giant  of  the  storm  which  he  thought  he  saw  approach 
ing,  but  in  doing  this  he  had  betrayed  his  own  ignorance, 
and  had  prepared  the  pit  into  which  he  himself  had 
fallen. 

"  And  the  worst  of  it  all  is,"  Allen  concluded,  "  that 
I  can't  see  even  now  where  I  was  wrong;  but  if  Mr. 
Gorham  told  me  that  Napoleon  Bonaparte  discovered 
America  I  would  know  that,  all  previous  statements  to 
the  contrary,  he  was  right." 

"  H'm!"  ejaculated  Sanford,  eager  to  break  over  the 
injunction  Gorham  had  placed  upon  him.  "  I  don't 
believe  there's  anything  in  what  you've  said  yet  that 
vou  can't  live  down.  Now  I  suppose  if  Gorham  had 
told  you  that  we'd  had  our  lunch,  the  fact  that  your 
father  was  starving  to  death  wouldn't  be  accepted  as 
evidence  worthy  of  consideration." 

Allen  laughed  as  he  pulled  out  his  watch,  his  mind 
easier  and  his  heart  lighter  than  it  had  been  for  months. 

"  I  had  forgotten  all  about  that,  and  it's  after  four 

[3071 


THE      LEVER 


o'clock.  Come  on  out  with  me,  and  I'll  give  you  a  revised 
version  of  the  '  fatted  calf  '  story." 

"  You  think  it  is  the  return  of  the  prodigal  father, 
do  you?" 

"  I  hope  we  are  both  prodigals,  you  dear  old  pater," 
Allen  replied,  seriously ;  "  I  hope  we  both  need  each  other 
so  much  that  we  never  can  exist  alone  again." 

"  All  right ;  but  we'd  better  go  easy  with  the  calf, 
for  I've  accepted  a  dinner  invitation  for  us  both  to 
night." 

"  You  have  ?"  Allen  asked,  disappointed  that  their 
visit  was  to  be  interrupted.  "  Where?" 

"  At  Gorham's." 

"  I  couldn't  go  there  again,  pater,"  he  protested 
quickly.  "  He's  just  asking  me  because  he  wants  you." 

"  No ;  he  wants  to  talk  with  you,  especially." 

"With  me?"  Allen's  face  sobered.  "He  thinks  he 
was  harsh  the  other  night.  I  would  rather  not  open  up 
the  whole  subject  again.  There  are  special  reasons. 
Please  go  without  me." 

"  You  don't  want  to  do  anything  which  will  make 
him  think  worse  of  you  than  he  does  now,  do  you?" 

"  No,"  was  the  frank  reply,  into  which  a  genuine 
note  of  sorrow  entered. 

"  Then  we'll  dine  with  him,  as  he  asks  us  to.  Now 
lead  on  to  that  calf,  but  make  it  a  little  one." 

Allen  found  himself  the  only  one  at  the  dinner-table 
who  seemed  to  be  laboring  under  any  restraint.  Eleanor 
and  Alice  were  in  better  spirits  than  he  had  seen  them 
for  months,  Gorham  was  an  ideal  host,  conversing  with 
Sanford  and  with  Allen  upon  lighter  topics  in  a  way 
which  seemed  to  show  entire  forgetfulness  of  what  had 

1308] 


THE      LEVER 


gone  before.  It  seemed  almost  heartless  to  the  boy  to 
find  these  friends,  so  dear  to  him,  able  to  conduct 
themselves  in  so  matter-of-fact  a  manner  while  he  was 
in  the  grip  of  his  own  life  tragedy.  But  he  could  not 
blame  them.  He  had  assumed  much  which  they  had 
never  granted.  This  last  dinner  together,  made  pos 
sible  by  his  father's  presence  in  New  York,  was  intended 
as  a  lesson  to  him,  and  as  Mr.  Gorham  had  planned  it, 
then  it  must  be  for  his  good.  He  would  play  his  part, 
and,  concealing  the  pain  it  cost  him,  he  entered  into 
the  conversation  with  an  abandon  which  surprised  them 
all. 

It  was  not  until  they  had  gathered  in  the  library, 
whither  Gorham  had  especially  invited  them  after  the 
dinner  was  over,  that  the  atmosphere  changed.  Allen 
saw  the  expression  on  Gorham's  face  deepen  into  that 
serious  aspect  which  always  signified  matters  of  impor 
tant  moment. 

"  I  find  myself  face  to  face  with  certain  duties  and 
responsibilities,"  Gorham  began,  "  which  appall  me  with 
their  far-reaching  significance,  and  I  have  asked  you, 
who  are  the  nearest  and  dearest  to  me,  to  be  witnesses 
of  my  faithful  performance  of  them,  to  the  extent  of 
my  understanding." 

Gorham  paused,  and  seemed  to  deliberate  before 
making  his  next  statement,  unconscious  of  the  tenseness 
of  the  silence  which  his  words  had  produced. 

"  First  of  all,  it  is  my  immediate  intention  to  take 
such  steps  as  are  necessary  to  bring  about  the  disin 
tegration  of  the  Consolidated  Companies." 

"But  you  can't  do  it,"  Sanford  declared.  "The 
corporation  is  solvent,  the  directors  and  the  stockholders 
will  of  course  be  against  it,  and  you  will  be  powerless." 

[309] 


THE      LEVER 


"  I  have  considered  all  that,"  Gorham  replied,  quietly. 
"  What  you  say  might  be  true  six  months  from  now,  if 
the  Executive  Committee  succeed  in  wrenching  my  con 
trol  from  me ;  but  to-day  I  have  the  strength.  The 
stockholders  have  invested  because  of  their  faith  in  me ; 
because  of  this  same  faith  they  will  accept  my  statement 
that  the  Companies'  future  is  imperilled, — and  the 
Government  itself  will  help  me  to  accomplish  my  pur 
pose." 

"  You  are  convinced,  then,  that  the  principles  you 
built  on  are  wrong?"  asked  Sanford,  unable  to  keep 
from  showing  some  satisfaction  in  his  voice. 

"  No,"  Gorham  replied,  firmly.  "  The  principles  are 
right, — the  wrong  lies  in  that  human  instinct  which 
finds  itself  incapable  of  living  up  to  its  best  standard. 
I  believed  that  my  success  had  been  due  to  a  recognition 
of  my  principle,  when  in  reality  it  came  from  the  sim 
plest  possible  expression  of  self-interest.  If  we  go  on, 
the  Companies'  continued  success  means  a  growth  be 
yond  my  control, — recent  events  show  that  it  has  almost 
reached  that  point  already, — and  when  once  in  the 
hands  of  others,  it  can  be  nothing  but  a  menace  to  the 
people. 

"And  now  for  the  most  humiliating  confession  of  all : 
I  myself  have  been  guilty  of  an  exercise  of  my  own  self- 
interest  as  flagrant  as  any  of  my  associates,  though  in 
a  different  way.  Their  lust  has  been  for  gold,  while 
mine  has  been  for  a  justification  of  an  idea.  My  self- 
interest  has  been  less  malignant  in  its  possible  effects,  but 
it  has  been  my  controlling  influence  none  the  less.  With 
due  humility,  I  confess  that  I  have  attempted  to  assume 
a  role  which  belongs  to  Providence,  and  that  no  man 
has  a  right  to  do.  I  have  been  guilty  of  violating  cer- 

[310] 


THE      LEVER 


tain  laws  of  life,  just  as  my  associates  have  violated 
other  laws  which  to  me  demand  observance;  but  I  have 
recognized  the  tendency  of  things  to  gravitate  back  to 
their  natural  positions  before  it  is  too  late  for  me  not 
to  make  certain  that  they  do  so.  In  order  to  prevent 
this  corporation  from  becoming  a  great  power  for  evil, 
and  as  a  final  evidence  of  the  strength  which  I  still 
possess,  I  propose  to  force  its'  dissolution." 

"  You  have  a  big  contract  on  your  hands,  Gorham," 
Sanford  replied ;  "  I  don't  believe  even  you  can  do  it." 

"  On  Tuesday  next,"  Gorham  continued,  "  the  Sen 
ate  Committee  will  consider  a  bill  which  is  in  reality  an 
amendment  to  the  Sherman  Act,  and  is  intended  to  give 
the  Government  the  power  to  discriminate  between  good 
and  bad  trusts.  The  Consolidated  Companies  is  to  be 
cited  as  a  case  in  point,  and  they  are  depending  upon 
me  to  advance  the  principal  arguments  for  the  passage 
of  the  bill.  All  the  other  big  interests  are  naturally 
against  it,  and  they  are  forcing  the  issue,  hoping  to 
compel  the  Government  to  act  against  the  Consolidated 
Companies,  and  thus  call  down  the  wrath  of  the  people 
upon  trust  legislation  as  a  whole.  If  the  masses  find 
that  the  one  agency  which  has  reduced  their  cost  of  liv 
ing  is  prevented  from  continuing  its  co-operative  work, 
they  will  effectually  put  a  stop  to  further  interference, 
and  the  other  interests  will  be  the  gainers." 

"  A  clever  game,"  Sanford  exclaimed. 

"  But  now  I  am  convinced  there  are  no  '  good '  trusts, 
as  I  have  been  pleased  to  call  them.  Those  combina 
tions,  like  the  Consolidated  Companies,  which  are  really 
a  benefit  to  the  people  to-day,  may,  as  again  in  the 
case  of  the  Consolidated  Companies,  become  their  great 
est  enemy  to-morrow.  I  am  prepared  to  say  that  all 

[311] 


THE      LEVER 


this  talk — much  of  which  I  have  made  myself — to  the 
effect  that  combination  effects  economies  of  which  the 
public  receives  the  benefit,  is  true  only  for  a  time.  Just 
so  soon  as  the  combinations  become  monopolies, 
amounts  saved  by  the  economies  simply  go  to  swell  the 
profits  for  the  stockholders.  Competition  must  not  be 
eliminated — it  is  the  vital  spark  which  keeps  alive  the 
welfare  of  the  country." 

"  You  are  going  to  say  all  this  before  the  Senate  Com 
mittee?" 

"  Yes,  and  more.  I  am  going  to  use  the  Consolidated 
Companies  as  an  example,  and  urge  immediate  active 
enforcement  of  the  Sherman  Act  against  all  consolida 
tions  which  aim  at  monopolies  or  the  restraint  of  trade. 
The  Attorney-General  said  that  this  would  mean  an 
industrial  reign  of  terror.  So  be  it.  Even  that  is  bet 
ter  than  this  gradual  strangling  of  the  people's  rights, 
which  is  now  being  carried  on  with  legislative  approval. 
I  shall  at  least  have  the  satisfaction  of  performing  this 
one  act  in  the  interests  of  the  people,  even  though  I 
must  forego  the  continued  administration  of  a  corpora 
tion  honestly  devoted  to  their  welfare.  This  statement 
from  me,  and  the  position  I  take  regarding  my  own 
corporation,  will  go  far  toward  defeating  those  other 
malign  interests  which  hope  to  gain  by  their  attack 
upon  me." 

Allen's  face  had  been  a  study  while  Mr.  Gorham  was 
speaking,  and  Alice  had  particularly  noted  the  varying 
emotions  it  expressed.  She  saw  there  first  the  aston 
ished  incredulity  at  her  father's  determination  to  dis 
solve  the  Companies ;  then  the  wonder  as  he  heard  Gor 
ham  state  conclusions  which  coincided  with  those  he 
had  arrived  at  earlier;  and  finally  the  radiant  joy  as 

[312] 


THE      LEVER 


the  realization  came,  not  fully  but  in  part,  that  his 
own  understanding  of  the  situation  had  not  been  all  at 
fault.  It  needed  only  the  words  which  Gorham  added 
to  make  the  world  look  bright  again.  But  it  was  to 
his  father  rather  than  to  Allen  that  Gorham  addressed 
himself. 

"And  now,  Stephen,  as  to  this  boy.  You  and  I  have 
done  our  best  to  make  him  think  the  world  is  wrong  side 
up;  but  I  am  more  to  blame  because  I  had  the  better 
opportunity  to  study  his  development,  beneath  my  own 
eyes.  I  taught  him  that  imagination  was  an  essential 
ingredient  of  a  successful  business  man,  to  enable  him 
to  grasp  each  situation  as  a  whole,  and  to  conceive  its 
dangers  and  its  possibilities.  Yet,  when  he  exercised 
that  very  quality,  and  came  to  me  frankly  with  the  re 
sults  of  his  efforts,  I  refused  to  recognize  my  own  handi 
work.  I  taught  him  my  altruistic  creed,  and  then 
blamed  him  when  he  used  it  as  his  standard,  and  was 
unhappy  that  those  around  him  failed  to  measure  up 
to  it.  Never  has  a  man  been  more  blind  than  I.  Never 
has  a  man  settled  back,  so  self-satisfied,  with  so  deter 
mined  a  conviction  that  because  he  willed  things  to  be 
so,  then  they  were  so.  I  have  merged  the  white  thread 
of  my  new  creed  with  the  black  one  of  the  old  business 
morals  I  first  learned ;  his  pattern  has  been  wholly 
woven  from  the  white. 

"  My  boy,"  he  added,  turning  to  Allen,  "  for  the  first 
time  in  my  life  I  ask  a  man's  forgiveness.  In  the  face 
of  the  greatest  discouragements,  you  have  shown  your 
self  true,  and  I  congratulate  you  and  your  father  upon 
the  future  which  you  have  before  you.  I  want  you 
to  stay  with  me  until  the  Consolidated  Companies 
has  been  placed  in  a  position  of  safety  to  itself  and 

[313] 


THE      LEVER 


to  its  stockholders,  then  you  may  choose  your  own 
career." 

"  No  Sanford  ever  made  a  failure  yet,"  Stephen 
proudly  repeated. 

"  But,  Mr.  Gorham — "  Allen  began,  surprised  into 
confusion  by  the  unstinted  praise ;  but  Alice  interrupted 
him. 

"  So  this  is  my  business  creation !"  she  exclaimed,  with 
satisfaction.  Allen  looked  first  at  her  and  then  at  Mr. 
Gorham.  Then  he  smiled  consciously. 

"  While  you  are  about  it,  Mr.  Gorham,"  he  said,  im 
pulsively,  "  I  wish  you  would  disintegrate  Alice  and  Mr. 
Covington." 

A  momentary  shadow  passed  over  the  faces  of  all  who 
knew  what  had  occurred. 

"  That  dissolution  took  place  last  night,"  Mr.  Gor 
ham  replied,  quietly. 

Alice's  cheeks  were  flaming,  but  her  smile  was  irresist 
ible  as  she  spoke. 

"  I'll  tell  you  all  about  it,  Allen,  if  you'll  come  into 
the  conservatory." 


XXXI 


AjREAT  event  requires  retrospective  consideration. 
Unlike  the  laws  of  perspective,  distance  gives  it 
greater  size.  So  it  was  with  Gorham's  supreme  and 
final  demonstration  of  his  strength.  To  Covington,  who, 
true  to  his  promise  of  the  night  before,  was  present  at 
this  crucial  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  and 
marvelled  that  his  chief  demanded  of  him  only  a  state 
ment  regarding  the  real  purchaser  of  the  stock,  this  dis 
solution  of  the  Consolidated  Companies  appeared  as  an 
act  of  sacrilege;  to  his  associates,  aghast  at  the  knowl 
edge  that  they  were  powerless  to  prevent  him,  it  seemed 
the  epitome  of  treachery;  to  his  family  it  meant  a 
sublime  exhibit  of  self-sacrifice ; — to  himself  it  was  the 
crowning  point  of  his  career,  and  a  justification  of  his 
life-work. 

"  You  know  wrhat  this  means  ?"  Litchfield  had  de 
manded  of  him.  "  You  realize  that  your  action  to-mor 
row  will  deprive  us  of  millions,  and  will  plunge  the  coun 
try  into  a  panic  which  will  cost  that  dear  public  which 
you  profess  to  love,  more  than  \ve  should  have  kept 
from  them  in  a  decade?" 

"Yes,"  replied  Gorham,  resolutely;  "I  realize  it  all. 
It  is  a  simple  case  of  surgery — it  may  be  necessary  to 
sacrifice  the  limb  to  save  the  life.  You,  gentlemen,  have 
had  it  in  your  power  to  place  the  standard  of  the  busi 
ness  world  so  high  that  no  longer  would  other  nations 

[  315  1  " 


THE      LEVER 


gaze  at  our  marvellous  machine,  appalled  by  its  pace — 
politically,  socially?  financially — wondering  whether 
they  or  AVC  read  correctly  the  danger-signals  ahead. 
You  have  had  it  in  your  power,  and  you  refused  to 
embrace  the  opportunity ;  and  if  men  of  your  intelli 
gence  and  high  standing  in  the  world  are  not  ready 
for  it,  then  the  world  itself  is  not  ready.  The  people 
have  trusted  themselves  to  me,  and  have  placed  in  my 
hands  power  beyond  that  which  has  ever  yet  been 
given ;  now  that  I  have  learned  how  that  power  may 
be  misused  against  them,  I  will  prevent  their  betrayal." 

From  his  office,  Gorham  returned  to  his  home  before 
leaving  for  Washington.  It  was  from  Riley's  hand,  as 
he  entered,  that  he  received  the  telegram  from  his  Den 
ver  attorneys,  announcing  that  the  lawyer,  Jennings,  was 
already  on  his  way  East,  bringing  with  him  absolute 
evidence  that  the  divorce  papers  had  been  properly  served 
on  Buckner.  Strengthened  for  the  ordeal  before  him  by 
the  removal  of  this  burden,  he  sought  Eleanor;  but  she 
met  him  in  the  hallway  before  he  reached  her  room. 

"  Robert,"  she  said,  impulsively,  after  looking  for  a 
moment  searchingly  into  his  face — "something  has  hap 
pened,  and  the  light  in  your  eyes  tells  me  that  all  is 
well.  You  have  decided  not  to  take  that  awful  step." 

"All  is  well,  dear  heart,"  he  repeated,  handing  her 
the  telegram ;  "  but  it  would  not  be  so  except  that  the 
'  awful  step  '  has  already  been  taken." 

"  Then  there  is  no  doubt  regarding  the  divorce  ?"  she 
cried,  joyfully,  after  reading  the  telegram. 

'  There  never  has  been,"  he  replied,  as  he  pressed  her 
to  him. 

"  May  I  tell  the  children  ?"  she  asked,  happily,  a 
moment  later,  and  Alice  and  Allen  responded  quickly. 

[  316  ] 


THE     LEVER 


The  Consolidated  Companies  was  forgotten  in  the 
joy  of  the  new  knowledge,  and  it  was  Allen  who  first 
made  reference  to  it. 

"Are  you  really  going  to  put  things  through  as  you 
said,  Mr.  Gorham?" 

"  The  die  is  cast,  my  boy ;  I  leave  for  Washington 
to-night." 

"  Then  monopolies  are  doomed?" 

"  Monopolies  can  never  be  prevented,"  Gorham  an 
swered,  seriously,  "  but  I  hope  that  my  action  to-morrow 
will  go  far  toward  forcing  their  control.  You  and  I 
have  seen  the  impossibility  of  trying  to  make  them 
change  their  spots.  I  thought  I  had  solved  the  prob 
lem,  but  I  was  wrong.  Far  ahead  in  the  future,  beyond 
the  point  which  our  present  vision  reaches,  perhaps  the 
solution  lies.  Until  it  is  found,  the  Government  must 
protect  itself  and  the  people  it  represents." 

"  Please  fix  it  so  as  to  make  one  exception,"  the  boy 
pleaded.  As  Gorham  looked  at  him  for  explanation,  he 
drew  Alice  closely  to  him.  "  Please  let  this  monopoly  be 
exempt  from  governmental  interference." 

A  stifled  sob,  entirely  out  of  place  in  the  presence 
of  such  general  rejoicing,  came  from  a  little  human  ball 
rolled  up  on  the  steps  below  them.  Eleanor  and  Allen 
quickly  sprang  toward  her,  but  the  boy  better  under 
stood  Patricia's  tears.  He  sat  beside  her,  and  wrapped 
his  great  arms  around  her. 

"  Don't  cry,  Lady  Pat,"  he  entreated. 

"  I  can't  help  it,"  she  moaned.  "  I  haven't  any  Sir 
Launcelot,  and  you  haven't  stormed  the  castle,  and  I've 
lost  my  silken  ladder,  and  I  want  to  die  so  that  I  can 
go  up  to  heaven  and  be  mean  to  the  angels." 

"  Oh,  no,  no!"  he  begged.  "  I've  tried  to  think  it  all 
[317] 


THE      LEVER 


out,  and  the  only  thing  I  can  do  is  to  cut  myself  in 
two  pieces  the  way  King  Solomon  decided  to  do  with 
the  baby.  Do  you  remember?" 

"  But  he  didn't  do  it,"  replied  Patricia,  showing  sur 
prising  knowledge  of  the  Scriptures. 

"  Well,  I  haven't  done  it  yet— but  I  will  if  you  say 
so." 

"  Will  you  really  ?"  The  child's  mind  was  already  di 
verted  from  its  tragedy.  "  But  then  you  couldn't  wear 
armor  or  ride  a  horse,  or  storm  a  castle,  or  do  any  of 
those  things." 

"  Not  without  messing  everything  all  up,"  Allen  ad 
mitted,  sorrowfully ;  "  but  that's  the  best  thing  I  can 
think  of." 

Patricia  was  seized  with  an  inspiration.  "  Will  you 
swear  to  be  my  Knight  every  time  Alice  is  mean  and 
horrid  to  you?" 

"  I  swear,"  Allen  responded  in  a  sepulchral  voice,  his 
eyes  laughing  at  the  older  girl  above  him. 

"  Then  I'll  get  you  most  of  the  time,"  Patricia  an 
nounced,  joyfully;  and  she  suffered  herself  to  join  the 
group  in  the  hallway. 

"  So  you  have  decided  to  abandon  your  business  ca 
reer?"  Gorham  asked,  turning  to  Alice. 

"  No,  daddy,"  she  replied,  slyly.  "  I'm  just  changing 
my  company  from  a  private  corporation  into  a  part 
nership." 

Gorham  drew  her  to  him  and  kissed  her  tenderly. 
Then  he  held  out  his  disengaged  hand  to  Allen. 

"  The  world  is  before  you.  From  the  time  it  was 
created,  man  has  striven  to  force  from  it  the  secret  of 
unlimited  power.  Events  have  sometimes  seemed  to  give 
encouragement,  but  ever  at  the  end  of  each  seeming 

[318] 


THE      LEVER 


success  has  come  the  unmistakable  warning  of  a  wisely 
jealous  God.  Omnipotence  is  not  for  mortals.  The 
only  lever  which  really  moves  the  world  is  love,  and  it 
rests  on  a  fulcrum  of  honor." 


THE    END 


J&SPUTH 


A       rt^  ""''/l/l/| 


